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Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

ĐÔI LỜI TÁC GIẢ Chào các bạn, mình là Tê, 23 tuổi. Mình hiện tại đã tốt nghiệp chuyên ngành Ngôn Ngữ Anh, trường Đại học Thăng Long, và đang theo đuổi công việc viết lách online. Ban đầu mình soạn tài liệu này mục đích là để tự học và ôn tập. Vì mình rất thích xem videos của native speakers để học hỏi cũng như lượm từ vựng từ họ. Thế nên, khi đó, mình đã nghĩ đến việc làm riêng một tài liệu mà trong đó vận dụng hết tất cả những gì mình thu lượm được. Ý tưởng biến nó thành một Ebook chợt lóe ra trong đầu khi cô giáo mình (cô Kelsey – giáo viên Cambly) khuyên mình nên share tài liệu này. Và ngay sau đó, mình đã bắt tay vào thực hiện cuốn sách. Tài liệu của mình dựa trên các câu hỏi trong phần thi IELTS Speaking Part 1 và Part 2. Ở đây, mình chủ yếu tập trung vào TỪ VỰNG [ hay nói cách khác là mức độ hiểu sâu của từ], Ý TƯỞNG, và CÁCH MÌNH DẪN DẮT TRONG PHẦN PART 2 Hơn nữa, để đảm bảo tính chính xác của tài liệu, mình đã nhờ cô Kelsey – 1 giáo viên Tiếng Anh người Mỹ, cùng mình chữa và soát từ đầu đến cuối 3 lần. Sau đó mình cũng tự kiểm lại đến 2 lần để đảm bảo mọi thứ đều “up to par” trước khi đến tay các bạn. Mình đã dành rất nhiều thời gian và công sức trong việc biên soạn tài liệu này với hy vọng nó sẽ đến được đúng tay người đang cần. Vậy nên, bạn hãy tận dụng nó thật hiệu quả nhé!

ĐÔI CHÚT VỀ CÔ KELSEY Cô hiện tại đang là giáo viên Tiếng Anh (quốc tịch Mỹ) trên Cambly, và đã có 2 năm kinh nghiệm giảng dạy IELTS. Cô cũng đã từng sống ở Việt Nam, hiện cô đang sinh sống và làm việc tại Colombia. Cô là người đã giúp mình rất nhiều trong việc hoàn thiện để đưa cuốn Ebook này đến tay các bạn.

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Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

HƯỚNG DẪN SỬ DỤNG EBOOK Bước 1: Hãy đọc qua phần từ vựng của 1 topic trước. (Ở đây, lượng từ vựng mình cung cấp đủ để bạn có thể chém về chủ đề đó rồi) Note: Những thứ bạn cần quan tâm khi học từ vựng: + Đọc cả nghĩa Tiếng Anh và nghĩa Tiếng Việt để hiểu cẵn kẽ nghĩa của mỗi từ. Không phải phần dịch nghĩa Tiếng Việt nào cũng có thể giúp bạn hiểu rõ ngữ cảnh sử dụng của từ vựng. Không ai học Tiếng Anh mà chỉ tra từ điển Anh Việt hết, vì thế, mặc dù tốn thêm thời gian, mặc dù mệt óc, nhưng hãy cố gắng nhé! + Đọc ví dụ. Nếu từ nào không có ví dụ, bạn hãy đọc nó ở trong câu trả lời. → Mục đích của việc này là để hiểu xem từ bạn vừa đọc được dùng như thế nào. + Đọc phiên âm của từ + Để tăng khả năng ghi nhớ, bạn có thể sử dụng sơ đồ tư duy, gạch ý, tạo mối liên kết giữa các từ nhé! Bước 2: Đọc câu hỏi và tự nghĩ ra câu trả lời của chính bạn Sau khi đã nắm được 1 lượng từ vựng của 1 topic, bạn hãy tìm cách áp dụng những từ vựng vừa học thông qua việc tự nghĩ câu trả lời cho riêng mình. Bước 3: Đọc câu trả lời Câu trả lời chỉ nhằm mục đích tham khảo. Đừng học thuộc vì kiểu gì cũng quên hết đấy. Hãy luôn nhớ rằng “học không phải để thi, học để dùng”. Bước 4: Luyện tập Tìm một người đồng hành cùng bạn để luyện nói. Nếu bạn không tìm được, hoặc ngại thì có thể tự thu âm và nói một mình, sau đó tự sửa.

Mọi ý kiến đóng góp để hoàn thiện cuốn sách, các bạn có thể gửi về email [email protected] Cảm ơn bạn đã mua sách và ủng hộ mình. Chúc bạn thành công và hãy thật tỏa sáng nhé!

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Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

TABLE OF CONTENTS FAMILY........................................................................................................................... 1 1. Do you have a large or small family?..................................................................... 1 2. How much time do you spend with your family? .................................................. 2 3. What do you like to do together as a family? ........................................................ 3 4. Do you get along well with your family? ............................................................... 4 5. Who are you closest to in your family? ................................................................. 5 6. Which member of your family are you most similar to? ....................................... 6 7. Were your parents strict when you were a child? ................................................. 8 8. Describe a person in your family you really admire. ............................................. 9 MARRIAGE ............................................................................................................... 12 1. Are you married, and if so when did you get married? ....................................... 13 2. Do you like to be single or to be married? .......................................................... 14 3. What age is good for you to get married? ........................................................... 16 4. Do you think Vietnamese weddings waste a lot of money? ................................ 17 5. Describe a couple you know who have a happy marriage. .................................. 18 6. Describe a wedding you attended. ...................................................................... 20 FRIENDS ................................................................................................................... 23 1. Do you have many close friends? ........................................................................ 23 2. Do you think friendship is important? ................................................................. 24 3. Do you keep in contact with friends from your childhood?................................. 25 4. What do you look for in a friend? ....................................................................... 27 5. How often do you go out with your friends?....................................................... 28 6. What do you often do with your friends on weekends? ..................................... 30 7. Do you think you are a good friend to others? .................................................... 31 8. Describe your best friend .................................................................................... 32 1

Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

STUDY ...................................................................................................................... 37 1. Do you work or are you a student? ..................................................................... 38 2. What do you like about your major?................................................................... 39 3. What do you dislike about your study? ............................................................... 40 4. What do you like most about your school? ......................................................... 41 5. What do you dislike about your school? ............................................................. 43 6. What is your favorite subject at school? ............................................................. 43 7. Which subject do you find the most difficult at school?...................................... 46 8. Would you say that you are a good student? ...................................................... 47 9. Describe your favourite subject. ......................................................................... 48 10. Describe your favourite teacher. ........................................................................ 50 JOBS......................................................................................................................... 53 1. Do you work or study? ........................................................................................ 54 2. Why did you choose to do that type of work? .................................................... 56 3. What do you like about your job? ....................................................................... 61 4. What do you dislike about your job? .................................................................. 63 5. What are some of the important things a candidate should find out before accepting a job? ....................................................................................................... 66 6. Describe a job you would like to do in the future................................................ 67 7. Để có thể làm việc hiệu quả và thành công ......................................................... 71 HOMETOWN ............................................................................................................ 73 1. Where are you from? .......................................................................................... 74 2. What do you like about your hometown?........................................................... 75 3. What is it like where you live? ............................................................................ 77 4. Do you like living in the city?............................................................................... 79 5. Do you like living in the countryside? .................................................................. 80 6. Would you prefer to live somewhere else? (Why)? ............................................ 81 7. Does your hometown have a lot of tourists? ...................................................... 82 2

Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

8. Has your hometown changed much since you were a child? .............................. 84 9. Describe your hometown.................................................................................... 86 10. Từ vựng và cấu trúc bạn có thể dùng để với topic “Describe a PLACE ……” ...... 88 TRAVELLING & HOLIDAYS ......................................................................................... 91 1. Do you like travelling?......................................................................................... 92 2. Do you prefer traveling alone or in a group?....................................................... 93 3. Where would you recommend a foreigner to visit in your country? ................... 96 4. What do you do while you are travelling? ........................................................... 97 5. Which do you prefer, a city break or a beach holiday? ....................................... 98 6. Do you like holidays? Why / why not? .............................................................. 101 7. What do you usually do on your holiday? ......................................................... 102 8. Do you like long or short holidays? ................................................................... 105 9. Where did you go for your last holiday? ........................................................... 106 10. Describe a memorable trip ............................................................................ 107 11. Describe a trip that was not up to your expectations..................................... 110 12. Describe an important holiday that is celebrated in your country. ................ 112 SPORTS & EXERCISES.............................................................................................. 115 1. Do you like playing sports? ............................................................................... 116 2. What sports are popular in Vietnam? ............................................................... 117 3. Do you think it is important to play a sport? ..................................................... 118 4. What sports would you like to try in the future? .............................................. 119 5. Do you like watching sports programs on TV? .................................................. 120 6. Do you like to watch live sports games? ........................................................... 121 7. Who is your favorite sports star? ...................................................................... 122 8. Do you prefer individual sports or team sports? ............................................... 123 9. Do you think children should play sports regularly?.......................................... 125 10. How often do you exercise?........................................................................... 126 11. What kind of exercises do you do? ................................................................ 127 3

Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

12. Describe an activity you do for your health or fitness? .................................. 129 13. Describe a sports game you have watched. ................................................... 131 14. Dưới đây là một vài từ vựng hay ho các bạn có thể dùng trong topic nay nhé 134 BOOKS/ READING .................................................................................................. 137 1. Do you like reading? ......................................................................................... 137 2. Are your reading habits now different than before? ......................................... 138 3. Have you ever read a novel that has been adapted into a film? ....................... 139 4. Which do you prefer, reading books or watching movies? ............................... 140 5. Do you read e-books? ....................................................................................... 141 6. What was your favorite book or story when you were a child? ........................ 142 7. Do you think it's important that children read regularly? ................................. 143 8. Describe your favorite book/ Describe a book you find useful .......................... 143 FASHION/SHOPPING .............................................................................................. 147 1. What kind of clothes do you like wearing? ....................................................... 148 2. Where do you buy your clothes? ...................................................................... 149 3. Has your style of clothing changed compared to 10 years ago? ........................ 150 4. What’s your favorite color for clothes? ............................................................. 151 5. What kind of clothes do people in your country usually wear? ......................... 152 6. Do you enjoy buying clothes? ........................................................................... 153 7. How often do you go shopping? ....................................................................... 154 8. What is the most expensive item that you have purchased? ............................ 155 9. Do you compare prices when you shop?........................................................... 155 10. Do you like online shopping? ............................................................................ 156 11. Do you think expensive products are always better than cheaper ones? ......... 157 12. Describe a piece of clothing you enjoy wearing ................................................ 158

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Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

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Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

FAMILY 1. Do you have a large or small family? There are six people in my immediate family: my parents, my younger sister, my 2 younger brothers, and me, so I’m the oldest. Therefore, I consider this to be an average-sized family. Living under the same roof, we certainly have our ups and downs, but we’re a tightknit family. And my family means the world to me, to be honest. VOCABULARY - immediate /ɪˈmiːdiət/ (a): [only before noun] nearest in relationship or rank, gần nhất + immediate family: your closest relations, such as your parents, children, husband, or wife, những mối quan hệ gần nhất với bạn ví dụ như bố mẹ, con cái, vợ/chồng - under the same roof/under one roof (idiom): in the same building or home, dưới cùng một mái nhà Ex. If we’re going to live under the same roof, we need to get along (hòa thuận). - ups and downs (n) the mixture of good and bad things in life or in a particular situation or relationship, thăng trầm, sự hội tụ của cả những điều tốt và xấu trong cuộc sống/ trong 1 tình huống nào đó/ hay trong mối quan hệ. - tight-knit /ˌtaɪt ˈnɪt/ (a) (of a family or community) with all the members having strong, friendly relationships with one another, khắng khít ( từ này có thể dùng 1 cho gia đình/ 1 cộng đồng) - to bits (phrase) very much, rất nhiều (Các bạn có thể sử dụng cụm này khi muốn nói rằng bạn rất yêu ai đó nhé) + I love my parents to bits. (Tôi rất yêu ba mẹ mình) + She was thrilled to bits when I said I'd come. (Cô ấy cực kỳ hào hứng khi tôi nói là tôi sẽ đến) - mean the world to someone (idiom) to be extremely important to someone, là cả thế giới với ai, cực kỳ quan trọng với ai

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Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

2. How much time do you spend with your family? Nowadays, I’ve got a lot on my plate. Having said that, on weekends, I still try to carve out time to spend with my family. As I get older, I just miss being around my parents because I know that they're not gonna be with me for the rest of my life. I don't know why mortality is always looming over my head, but while they're relatively young and still healthy, I just want to appreciate every moment with my parents. Although my patience is constantly tested especially when my parents are nagging or they’re getting on my nerves, spending time with them is so rewarding. (^ ^) VOCABULARY - have something on my plate (idiom) to have something, usually a large amount of important work, to deal with, có rất nhiều việc quan trọng phải làm Ex. I’ve got a lot on my plate at the moment. Ex. I can't take on more work - I have enough on my plate as it is! NOTE: Nếu bạn rất bận, bận ngập đầu ngập cổ luôn thì có các idioms sau, bạn có thể tham khảo rồi lựa cái mình thích nhé: I'm up to my ears in chores! Don't bother her - she's up to her eyeballs in paperwork. I'm up to my eyes in work at the moment. I can't help, I'm up to my neck in schoolwork. Nếu bạn muốn xem nhiều cụm về “BẬN” hơn thì tham khảo link này nhé: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/thesaurus/articles/having-a-lot-to-do - Having said that (idiom): despite what has just been said, tuy nhiên, nói thì nói vậy nhưng mà - carve out time: make free time for important activities; set aside time to do something, cố gắng dành thời gian cho những điều mình thấy là thực sự quan trọng

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Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

- mortality /mɔːrˈtæləti/ (n) the state of being human and not living forever, cái chết - loom over my head /luːm/: It means something bad (disaster, accident, unemployment, illness, divorce, bankruptcy etc.) is about to happen to you, điều gì xấu sắp xảy ra với bạn + Đối với câu trên: “mortality is always looming over my head”, ý mình là “việc bố mẹ mình không còn sẽ xảy ra sớm thôi” + Một ví dụ khác để bạn hiểu hơn về cụm này: Ví dụ, tuần sau bạn có một bài kiểm tra, và bạn chẳng ôn gì, giờ nhìn vào lịch thi thấy sợ sợ à nha, bạn nói vời bạn mình: “My completion test is next week, it's looming over my head” Bạn có thể xem thêm link này để hiểu hơn về cụm này nhé: https://www.quora.com/What-does-looming-over-my-head-mean - nag /næɡ/(v) to keep complaining to somebody about their behavior or keep asking them to do something, rầy la ai hoài + nag at somebody + nag somebody (to do something) -

get on someone’s nerves: to annoy someone a lot, làm ai thấy phiền toái, khó chịu, bực mình - rewarding /rɪˈwɔːrdɪŋ/(a) (of an activity, etc.) worth doing; that makes you happy because you think it is useful or important, rất đáng làm, khiến bạn hạnh phúc vì bạn nghĩ nó có ích và quan trọng.

3. What do you like to do together as a family? As a family, we love to have our meals together and discuss what's happening in our lives. These days, I find it easier for me to open up to my parents. I can share with them a lot of things like my hardships, my successes, and even the goals that I want to hit in the future. Actually, I feel so connected and rejuvenated after spending time with my loved ones. VOCABULARY 3

Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

- open up ( to somebody ) (phr v): to talk about what you feel and think; to become less shy and more willing to communicate, sẵn sàng cởi mở để nói ra những gì bạn nghĩ, cảm nhận của bạn mà e dè - hit the goals: đạt được các mục tiêu (bạn cũng có thể dùng từ “achieve” thay thế cho từ “hit”, nhưng từ “hit” sẽ casual hơn) - rejuvenate /rɪˈdʒuːvəneɪt/ (v) to make someone look or feel young and energetic again, làm ai trông trẻ lại và cảm thấy tràn đầy năng lượng trở lại Ex. She felt rejuvenated by her fortnight in the Bahamas. 4. Do you get along well with your family? I feel like my relationship with my parents is getting deeper and deeper. To be honest, when I was younger, I had a lot of resentment towards them because I didn't feel emotionally supported. My parents were literally always working, and I was home alone the majority of the time. …Also, growing up in an Asian household, there was just a lot of criticism and comparison. However, these days I've been feeling a lot more reflective/ introspective, I have come to realize that my parents really didn't have time for me because they were literally spending all their time trying to figure out how they were gonna put food on the table. Now, I feel much more grateful for the struggles that my parents have been through in order to raise me and give me a better life. VOCABULARY - resentment (towards/against somebody) /rɪˈzentmənt/ (uncountable noun): a feeling of anger or unhappiness about something that you think is unfair, sự tức tối, bực bội + to feel/harbour/bear resentment towards/against somebody: cảm thấy/ chứa đựng/ mang trong mình sự oán hận với ai - reflective /rɪˈflektɪv/ (a) thinking back on things, nghĩ lại về nhiều thứ 4

Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

- introspective /ˌɪntrəˈspektɪv/(a) tending to think a lot about your own thoughts, feelings, etc., hay tự xem xét nội tâm - figure out how/ what… (phr v) to think about somebody/something until you understand them/it, nghĩ về ai/điều gì cho đến khi bạn hiểu về họ/nó - put food on the table (idiom) to provide enough money to cover basic necessities, kiếm đủ tiền để trang trải những thứ cần thiết cơ bản + bring home the bacon (idiom) to earn money for a family to live on, kiếm được tiền để nuôi gia đình - grateful /ˈɡreɪtfl/ (a) feeling or showing thanks because somebody has done something kind for you or has done as you asked, biết ơn + grateful to somebody 🡪 We are very grateful to all those who contributed. + grateful for something 🡪 She said she was grateful for the support shown by the community.

5. Who are you closest to in your family? Among all the people in my family, I would say I’m closest to my younger sister. She is my confidant. I share with her lots of things on my mind, like my feelings, my vulnerability, my hardships, my shortcomings, just everything spilled out and examined together. This is because she’s a really good listener. She makes me feel heard. Whenever I’m opening up about something, she always tries her best to give me her full undivided attention and allow me to talk through my problems. VOCABULARY - confidant /ˈkɑːnfɪdænt/ (n): a person that you trust and who you talk to about private or secret things, người mà bạn tin tưởng và là người bạn có thể kể những điều riêng tư, bí mật của mình - on somebody’s mind: if somebody/something is on your mind, you are thinking and worrying about them/it a lot, (ai/ cái j) cứ làm cho mình bận tâm, lo nghĩ - spill (something) out (phr v): to talk about or express an emotion freely, thể hiện/ bộc lộ cảm xúc công khai 5

Tê Nguyễn – Unlock IELTS Speaking

- give sb your undivided attention: If you give someone, or if someone has, your undivided attention, you stop whatever else you are doing and listen to that person, dừng mọi điều bạn đang làm để lắng nghe người khác - talk through (phr v): discuss something thoroughly, nói chuyện, bàn bạc về cái gì một cách kỹ lưỡng Ex. He needed to spend time talking through his feelings 6. Which member of your family are you most similar to? I see bits and pieces of myself in both my parents. However, I would say I take after my dad more. And actually, I'm also the spitting image of him. When it comes to negative traits, I definitely got his temper. Growing up, my dad and I were never super close from primary school all the way through high school. We were always butting heads, fighting, and even screaming at the top of our lungs. I think it's because we're both very fiery. In terms of some positive traits. I definitely got his boldness and his extroversion My dad is a go-getter who is never afraid of taking risks, so it’s obviously in my blood. Besides, he’s the life and soul of the party. There are so many parties at our house where people are singing karaoke and drinking. And I feel like I also learned my love of socializing from him. So, yeah, these are some characteristics that I picked up from my dad. VOCABULARY - bits and pieces (US) (idiom) (C2) small things or jobs of different types, những thứ nhỏ nhỏ = bits and bobs (UK) + Ex. I just need to get a few bits and pieces at the supermarket. - take after someone (phr v) to be similar to an older member of your family in appearance or character, giống một thành viên trong gia đình (người lớn tuổi, ví dụ như ba mẹ) về ngoại hình và tính cách + Ex. She takes after me with her love of horses. - be the spitting image of someone /ˌspɪtɪŋ ˈɪmɪdʒ/(idiom) to look extremely similar to someone, cực kỳ giống ai (về ngoại hình) 6

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- temper /ˈtempər/(n) the tendency to become angry very quickly, tính khí nóng nảy, có xu hướng trở dễ giận dữ Keep your temper/ keep your cool (giữ bình tĩnh) >< Lose your temper/ lose your cool (mất bình tĩnh) - close to somebody (a) knowing somebody very well and liking them very much, gần gũi - all the way: the whole time (or the whole distance or journey) + Ex: I was always home alone all the way up until 6:00 p.m (Tôi đã luôn ở nhà một mình tới tận 6h tối) - to butt heads with somebody (phrase) to express different opinions about something often angrily, đối đầu với ai đó, thể hiện quan điểm một cách giận dữ. Ex. When you butt heads with someone, remember to keep your cool - at the top of your lungs (idiom) extremely loudly, hét/ quát/ … cực to. + Ex. She shouted his name at the top of her lungs. - fiery /ˈfaɪəri/(a) quickly or easily becoming angry, dễ cáu, dễ nổi giận - boldness /ˈbəʊldnəs/ (n) the quality of being brave and confident and not being afraid to say what you feel or to take risks, sự dũng cảm, sự gan dạ, sự táo bạo - extroversion /ˌekstrəˈvɜːrʒn/(n) the quality of being a lively and confident person who enjoys being with other people, sự hướng ngoại - go-getter (n) someone who is very energetic, determined to be successful, and able to deal with new or difficult situations easily, người dám nghĩ dám làm, luôn tiến lên phía trước bất kể khó khăn ra sao để đạt được cái mà mình muốn - be in the/someone's blood (idiom): If an ability or skill is in someone's blood, they have it naturally, usually because it already exists in their family. “Ở trong máu của ai”. (Ý nói đến một kỹ năng/ khả năng mà ở trong máu của ai, nghĩa là người đó sở hữu một cách tự nhiên vì trong nhà có người có khả năng/ kỹ năng đó rồi) + Ex. His father and grandmother were painters too, so it's obviously in the blood. - the life and soul of the party (idiom) someone who is energetic and funny and at the centre of activity during social occasions, một người quảng giao và là trung tâm mọi hoạt động của một sự kiện, là linh hồn của bữa tiệc - the characteristics that I learned/got/picked up from my dad: Những tính cách mà tôi học được từ bố mình ( bạn có thể dùng 3 từ “learn”, “get”, “pick up” để thay thế cho nhau nhé) - trait (n) a particular quality in your personality, đặc điểm, 1 phẩm chất tính cách Ex. Personality traits 7

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Bad/ negative traits >< positive traits - characteristic /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/(n) a typical feature or quality that something/somebody has, nét đặc trưng, đặc tính

7. Were your parents strict when you were a child? Well, I don't think my parents were strict when I was small. Like I said earlier, they were always working, so since elementary school, I was always home alone all the way up until 6:00 p.m. Yeah, it was awesome that I got to do whatever I wanted to do at home like vegging out and watching TV. My parents just didn't have the chance to be helicopter parents and breathe down my neck. I really had the space to figure out who I was and what excited me. VOCABULARY - all the way: the whole time (or the whole distance or journey) Ex: I was always home alone all the way up until 6:00 p.m (Tôi đã luôn ở nhà một mình tới tận 6h tối) - veg out /vedʒ/ (phr v) to relax by doing something that needs very little effort, for example watching television, thư giãn bằng cách làm một việc mà ít tốn sức, tận hưởng sự thoải mái - helicopter parent /ˈhelɪkɑːptər perənt/ (n) a parent who is closely involved with their child's life and tries to control it too much, especially their child's education, kiểu phụ huynh can thiệp quá nhiều vào cuộc đời con, kiểm soát và bảo vệ con thái quá. - breathe down someone’s neck. /briːð/(idiom) to watch closely what somebody is doing in a way that makes them feel anxious and/or annoyed, nghĩa đen là thổi vào cổ một người nào, và nghĩa bóng là theo dõi sát người đó khiến người đó khó chịu.

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8. Describe a person in your family you really admire.

WHO THE PERSON IS When I read the cue card, the first one that springs to mind is my dad who has the biggest influence on me, hands down. HOW THE PERSON IS I love and respect him for many reasons. For one, he’s very persistent and definitely a creature of consistency. He has this incredible talent for working extremely fast and efficiently. He can just buckle down and get everything done. And it's so admirable. On top of that, as my dad has been through all sorts of ups and downs, he is very knowledgeable about different things. So, whenever I have some problems, he will be the first one I turn to for help. I would also consider my dad as my mentor who has been drumming into/ drilling into my often-thick skull lots of life lessons since I was very small. WHAT YOU USUALLY DO TOGETHER These days, I’m always up to my ears in work, but I still try to carve out time to have some chats with my dad. As I grow older, I find it easier for me to open up to him. I can share with him a lot of things like my day-to-day problems, my hardships, my successes, and even the goals that I want to hit in the future. To me, getting to spend time with him is so rewarding. I feel extremely connected and rejuvenated after that. WHY YOU ADMIRE HIM/ HER All in all, my dad is such an inspiration to all of us, me and my siblings. There aren’t enough words to describe what he has done for me and my life. Even when my dad’s nagging, I know it all comes from a place of love and concern. I look up to him and love him fiercely.

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VOCABULARY - spring to mind (idiom) (of a thought or idea) immediately think of something, nghĩ ngay đến gì, điều gì xuất hiện đầu tiên trong tâm trí = come to mind - hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi - creature /ˈkriːtʃər/ (n) a person, considered in a particular way, 1 người như thế nào Ex: He always goes to bed at ten—he's a creature of habit (= he likes to do the same things at the same time every day). - consistency /kənˈsɪstənsi/ (n) the quality of always behaving in the same way or of having the same opinions, standard, etc.; the quality of being consistent, tính nhất quán - buckle down (to something) /ˈbʌk.əl/ (phr v) to start working hard, bắt đầu làm việc một cách chăm chỉ và nghiêm túc Ex. He'll have to buckle down (to his work) soon if he wants to pass his finals. - ups and downs /ˌʌps ən ˈdaʊnz/ (n) the mixture of good and bad things in life or in a particular situation or relationship, thăng trầm, sự hội tụ của cả những điều tốt và xấu trong cuộc sống/ trong 1 tình huống nào đó/ hay trong mối quan hệ. - knowledgeable (about something) /ˈnɑːlɪdʒəbl/ (a) knowing a lot, am hiểu về thứ gì ~ well-informed about something /ˌwel ɪnˈfɔːrmd/ (a) - turn to somebody/something (phr v) to go to somebody/something for help, advice, etc., tìm đến ai nhờ giúp đỡ/ cho lời khuyên - mentor /ˈmentɔːr/ (n) an experienced person who advises and helps somebody with less experience over a period of time, người hướng dẫn - drum something into someone /drʌm/(phr v) to teach something to someone by repeating it many times, làm ai nhớ bằng cách nhắc đi nhắc lại nhiều lần - drill something into somebody /drɪl/ (phr v) to make somebody remember or learn something by repeating it often, làm ai nhớ hoặc học điều gì bằng việc lặp đi lặp lại nó - thick skull /skʌl/(n) a dull-witted person, 1 người chậm tiêu, đần độn - be up to your ears in something (idiom) : to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ

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- carve out time: make free time for important activities; set aside time to do something, cố gắng dành thời gian cho những điều mình thấy là thực sự quan trọng - open up ( to somebody) (phr v): to talk about what you feel and think; to become less shy and more willing to communicate, sẵn sàng nói ra những gì bạn nghĩ, cảm nhận của bạn mà ko thấy xấu hổ - hit the goals: đạt được các mục tiêu (bạn cũng có thể dùng từ “achieve” thay thế cho từ “hit” nhưng từ “hit” sẽ casual hơn) - rejuvenate (v) /rɪˈdʒuːvəneɪt/ to make someone look or feel young and energetic again, làm ai trông trẻ lại và cảm thấy tràn đầy năng lượng trở lại Ex. She felt rejuvenated by her fortnight in the Bahamas. - nag /næɡ/ (v) to keep complaining to somebody about their behaviour or keep asking them to do something, rầy la ai hoài + nag at somebody + nag somebody (to do something) - concern /kənˈsɜːrn/ (uncountable noun) a desire to protect and help somebody/something, khao khát bảo vệ và giúp ai đó + concern for somebody/something 🡪 Ex. parents’ concern for their children - look up to somebody (phr v) to admire or respect somebody, ngưỡng mộ và tôn trọng ai

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MARRIAGE 1. Are you married, and if so when did you get married? Answer 1 Well, actually, I’m still single. I feel like I’m just too young to commit my entire life to someone at the tender age of 23. And there are a bunch of things that I haven’t experienced and done yet. I’ve noticed that this is what my generation is more inclined to do. For me, work comes first, and I still want to be free a little bit longer to accomplish what I’m always striving for/ dreaming of.

Answer 2 Yes, I’m married. Last year, my husband and I decided to tie the knot since our relationship was at a point where we knew that we could see a future together. Obviously, there were some hiccups in moving in with a new person especially after the honeymoon period fizzled out, but we really found ways to make it work, and we are getting stronger and stronger. Now, I feel so lucky that I was able to marry the love of my life. VOCABULARY - at the tender age of.. / at a tender age: used in connection with somebody who is still young and does not have much experience, ở độ tuổi non nớt ( ý nói đến những người còn trẻ và chưa có nhiều kinh nghiệm) Ex: She shouldn't be having to deal with problems like this at such a tender age. - be inclined to do something /ɪnˈklaɪnd/ (a) tending to do something; likely to do something, có khuynh hướng làm gì, có xu hướng làm gì - strive for something (v) to try very hard to achieve something, cố gắng và lỗ lực để đạt được điều gì - dream of/about something (v) to imagine and think about something that you 13

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would like to happen, nghĩ về điều gì tie the knot (idiom) to get married, kết hôn hiccup (in something) /ˈhɪkʌp/ (n) a problem that delays or interrupts something for a while, but does not usually cause serious difficulties, trục trặc (không phải quá nghiêm trọng) Ex. This one defeat was the only hiccup in the team's steady progress up the League. Ex. Apart from the occasional hiccup, things ran pretty well. move in (phr v) to start to live in your new home, bắt đầu dọn đến và sống ở một ngôi nhà mới Ex. Our new neighbors moved in yesterday. >< move out (phr v) to leave your old home, dọn ra khỏi nhà fizzle out /ˈfɪzl/ (phr v) to gradually end, often in a disappointing or weak way, kết thúc ( thường theo một cách thất vọng) Ex. They went to different universities and their relationship just fizzled out. make something work: to make it function properly. It can be something physical (a clock, for instance) or something more abstract (a friendship, a relation, for instance). Tìm cách để cái giải quyết cái gì, làm cho nó hoạt động đúng. the love of someone's life (idiom) the person someone loves more than any other person at any time in life, người bạn yêu nhất trên đời, tình yêu của đời mình Ex. She was the love of his life.

2. Do you like to be single or to be married? To be honest, I was never the type of person who dreamt about marriage or fantasized about it. I really embraced my singleness and even wanted to be alone for the rest of my life because I thought marriage was a deep commitment, and it also came from quite an antiquated history. But as I get older, I'm starting to get a little bit more traditional in my way of thinking because now, to me, marriage is actually a beautiful thing.

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I think it's incredible to be with someone to go through the life stages because there are so many things that are gonna happen. And two brains are way better than one. We are just social creatures as well, and it's so nice to have someone that you can lean on through thick and thin.

VOCABULARY - dream of/about something /driːm/ (v) to imagine and think about something that you would like to happen, tưởng tượng, nghĩ về điều gì - fantasize about something/ˈfæntəsaɪz/ (v) to think about something very pleasant that is unlikely to happen, mơ tưởng - embrace something /ɪmˈbreɪs/ (v) to accept an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc., especially when it is done with enthusiasm, đón nhận, yêu thích Ex. Soccer has become more widely embraced by Americans. - antiquated /ˈæntɪkweɪtɪd/ (a) (of things or ideas) old-fashioned and no longer suitable for modern conditions, cổ hủ ( không còn phù hợp với điều kiện hiện đại nữa) = outdated /ˌaʊtˈdeɪtɪd/ Ex. The antiquated heating system barely heats the larger rooms. - go through something (phr v) to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation, trải qua tình huống khó khăn + go through the life stages: trải qua những giai đoạn trong cuộc đời - two brains are better than one = two heads are better than one: (idiom) used to say that it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone, 2 người cùng giải quyết vấn đề thì sẽ tốt hơn 1 người tự làm - way more + adj: trong trường hợp này, “way” là 1 trạng từ dùng để nhấn mạnh khi so sánh (nếu bạn xem nhiều videos, bạn sẽ thấy người bản xứ dùng rất nhiều). ->two brains are way more better than one: 2 người giải quyết vấn đề thì sẽ tốt hơn hẳn 1 người Có cả “Way too” nữa 🡪 This skirt is way too short. - lean on somebody/something /liːn/ (phr v): = rely, to depend on somebody/something for help and support, dựa vào ai/ cái gì - through thick and thin (idiom) (C2): If you support or stay with someone 15

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through thick and thin, you always support or stay with them, even if there are problems or difficulties, ủng hộ hoặc ở bên ai đó dù có khó khăn hay như thế nào đi chăng nữa 3. What age is good for you to get married? Well, I would say the optimal age for me to marry/start a family is in my late 20s or sometime in my early 30s. In case you don’t know, living in an Asian household, there are a lot of expectations that my parents put on me, like finding a good guy, settling down, and then getting married before the age of 25. My dad’s just really adamant about it. But I really stick to my guns. I will get hitched when I’m financially stable because I want to provide a better quality of life for my future children. Also, it will be much easier for me to handle the realities of marriage when I’m mature and experienced. VOCABULARY - sometime OR some time (adv) at a time that you do not know exactly or has not yet been decided, một lúc nào đó Ex. I saw him sometime last summer. - settle down /ˈsetl/ (phr v) to start living in a place where you intend to stay for a long time, usually with your partner, bắt đầu ổn định cuộc sống - adamant /ˈæd.ə.mənt/ (a) impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision, kiên quyết - stick to your guns (idiom) to continue to have your beliefs or continue with a plan of action, even if other people disagree with you, giữ vững quan điểm, kiên định lập trường - get hitched /hɪtʃt/ (idiom) to get married, kết hôn ~ marry (v) ~ start a family ~ get married - be financially stable (a): ổn định về mặt tài chính - handle (v) to deal with a situation, a person, an area of work or a strong emotion, giải quyết, xử lý ~ deal with - reality /riˈæləti/(countable noun) a thing that is actually experienced or seen, in contrast to what people might imagine, hiện thực (trái với những gì mọi người 16

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thường tưởng tưởng) - experienced /ɪkˈspɪriənst/ (a) having knowledge as a result of doing something for a long time, or having had a lot of different experiences, có kinh nghiệm, từng trải Ex. She's very young and not very experienced. Ex. an experienced traveller (= somebody who has travelled a lot) 4. Do you think Vietnamese weddings waste a lot of money? Definitely yes. I would say Vietnamese are always willing to splurge on a bunch of different things although there are so many little details that go into their weddings. This is because a wedding is a big deal in this country, and many people think it’s kind of like a once-in-a-lifetime event. So, they usually try their best to make this the best day of their lives. VOCABULARY - splurge (something) (out) (on something) /splɜːrdʒ/ (v): to spend a lot of money on something that you do not really need, tiêu xài phung phí - go into something (phr v) (of money, time, effort, etc.) to be spent on something or used to do something, (thời gian/ tiền bạc/ công sức/..) đươc dành vào việc gì - a big deal (idiom) a thing considered important, việc quan trọng - once-in-a-lifetime (adj) [ thường đứng trước danh từ ] A once-in-a-lifetime experience or opportunity is very special because you will probably only have it once, một lần trong đời, rất hiếm - do/try your level best (to do something): to do as much as you can to try to achieve something, cố gắng hết sức để làm gì

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5. Describe a couple you know who have a happy marriage. WHO THEY ARE Today, I’m gonna talk about my aunt and her husband, whose married life is, without a doubt, absolutely stellar and picture-perfect. HOW YOU KNOW THEM In 2015, my aunt fell in love hard/deeply. As we were very close in age, she shared with me everything on her mind, including her relationship, hands down. To sum it up, she had met her husband earlier that year at a dive bar. They just really hit it off/clicked, and just seemed to be a perfect match for each other. However, due to the nature of work, they were in a long-distance relationship for about a year, and it had its highs and its lows. But it was all worth it because they were crazy about each other. Finally, in 2018, my uncle popped the question to her, and they decided to tie the knot 2 months after that. WHAT THEY USUALLY DO TOGETHER I would say they have been with each other for about 8 years since then. Now, although they are always busy with work, they still carve out time to have a date night at least once a month, just to keep things a little spicy between them. HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THEIR MARRIAGE I think it's fair to say when my aunt met her soulmate, she became a better version of herself. I mean, her husband really brings out the best in her. She has become more inspired, passionate, and energetic, but she’s had all those things in bucketloads anyway. Also, my uncle is the most thoughtful, caring, and loving person. He's her rock and he's literally there for her all the time. All in all, I would say their relationship is such an inspiration to me, and I wish I could find the man of my dreams like her. VOCABULARY 18

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- without a doubt (phrase) very definitely, không còn nghi ngờ gì nữa, chắc chắn - stellar (a) (of people or their activities) amazing, extremely high in quality; excellent, tuyệt vời Ex. The cellist gave a stellar performance before an enthusiastic audience. Ex. The company has a stellar reputation for its treatment of its workers. - picture-perfect (a) exactly right in appearance or in the way things are done, completely flawless, đẹp hoàn hảo, ko tì vết Ex.It was a picture-perfect day for going fishing. Ex. Almost every hill is crowned with a picture-perfect little walled village - hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi - fall in love (idiom) to be very attracted to someone and begin to love them, phải lòng, vô tình “ngã” vào chuyện tình cảm với ai - on somebody’s mind: if somebody/something is on your mind, you are thinking and worrying about them/it a lot, (ai/ cái j) cứ làm cho mình bận tâm, lo nghĩ - dive /daɪv/(n) a bar, music club, etc. that is cheap, and perhaps dark or dirty, quán ba bình dân, bẩn bẩn, phục vụ đồ uống rẻ [ thường có 1 lượng khác hàng trung thành ] - click with somebody (v) to become friends with somebody at once; to become popular with somebody, thân nhau ngay (với ai) - hit it off (with someone) (idiom) to be friendly with each other immediately, ăn ý hợp nhau ngay từ lúc đầu gặp - a… match for somebody (n) a person or thing that combines well with somebody/something else, 1 người/ 1 thứ gì đó rất hợp với ai - a long-distance relationship (n) a romantic relationship between two people who live far apart and so cannot see each other very often, mối quan hệ yêu xa - highs and lows: If you refer to the highs and lows of someone's life or career, you are referring to both the successful or happy times, and the unsuccessful or bad times, thăng trầm - be crazy about somebody: liking somebody very much; in love with somebody, yêu ai say đắm, phát cuồng về ai - pop the question (idiom) to ask someone to marry you, cầu hôn ai - tie the knot (idiom) to get married, kết hôn - carve out time: make free time for important activities; set aside time to do something, cố gắng dành thời gian cho những điều mình thấy là thực sự quan trọng - date night /ˈdeɪt naɪt/ (n) an occasion when two people who are married, or 19

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who have been in a relationship for a long time, go out together in the evening to enjoy themselves, đêm hẹn hò ( của những cặp đôi đã cưới hoặc cặp đôi yêu nhau lâu rồi) Ex: Keep your relationship alive with regular date nights spicy (a) (of a story, piece of news, etc.) exciting and making you feel slightly shocked, thú vị soulmate /ˈsəʊlmeɪt/(n) a person that you have a special friendship with because you understand each other’s feelings and interests, bạn tâm giao become a better version of herself: trở thành phiên bản tốt hơn của cô ấy bring out the best in (idiom) used to say that a person or thing helps one to use or show one's best qualities, ai/ cái gì giúp 1 người thể hiện được những phẩm chất tốt nhất của họ bucketload /ˈbʌk.ɪt.loʊd/ (n) a large amount of something, một lượng lớn (từ này thường ở dạng số nhiều) Ex. He has bucketloads of charm. Rock (n) [ chỉ người], If someone is your rock, you feel that you can depend on them and that they will always support you, 1 người mà bạn cảm thấy có thể dựa vào, người sẽ luôn ủng hộ bạn Ex. He's always been my rock

6. Describe a wedding you attended. WHOSE WEDDING IT WAS When I read the cue card, the first thing that pops into my head is my friend, Jenn’s wedding. She is my number one hype man and is always by my side no matter what happens. I mean there aren’t enough words to describe what she has done for me and my life. So when I received her wedding invitation, I knew that I had to attend this event at any cost. WHERE IT WAS When I got to the venue, I was literally blown away by the cozy setting and the 20

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intimate ambiance. The wedding was held at a small restaurant tucked away in the backstreets of Hanoi, which was really a breath of fresh air from the other weddings that I had attended before. WHAT HAPPENED It was kind of like a personal wedding with the presence of 50 guests, just only the nearest and dearest of the bride and groom. After a long wait, tears welled up in my eyes when I finally saw Jenn walking down the aisle with her father. She looked stunning in an immaculate wedding gown. Words just couldn’t do justice to how truly happy I was for my sister. What has left an imprint on my memory up to now is the bride and groom’s vows which were beyond beautiful. The depth and the emotion of what they wrote really touched me in a way that I couldn’t explain. After the ceremony, we partied and danced the night away. And I really had an absolute blast there, to be honest. HOW YOU FELT ABOUT THIS WEDDING All in all, I think her wedding was impeccable, the bride and groom were pictureperfect. And personally, I really love the cozy simple vibe, which definitely made the wedding one-of-a-kind. VOCABULARY - pops into your head/mind: to suddenly think of something, đột nhiên nghĩ ra cái gì - hype man /haɪp/ (n) a personal cheerleader, người luôn cổ vũ, động viên bạn trong mọi hoàn cảnh - at/by someone’s side: supporting someone, or remaining loyal to them, ở bên ủng hộ ai - at any cost/ at all costs (idiom) no matter what dangers or difficulties are involved, bằng bất cứ giá nào 21

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- blow someone away (phr v) to impress somebody a lot or to make them very happy, làm ai choáng ngợp, làm họ hạnh phúc - ambience /ˈæmbiəns/(n) the character and atmosphere of a place - be tucked away (phr v) to be located in a quiet place, where not many people go - backstreet /ˈbækstriːt/ (n) a small quiet street, usually in a poor part of a town or city, away from main roads, phố nhỏ - a breath of fresh air (idiom) someone or something that is new and different and makes everything seem more exciting, 'làn gió mới', ai/cái gì mới lạ làm cho tất cả mọi thứ trở nên thú vị hơn - Someone’s nearest and dearest (idiom) One's closest and most intimate family members, những người thân thiết nhất trong gia đình của ai - well up: to gradually or steadily flow upwards or outwards so as to begin to fill or overflow something, bắt đầu dâng lên và tràn ra - immaculate /ɪˈmæk.jə.lət/(a) perfectly clean or tidy - do someone/something justice (idiom) to treat someone or something in a way that is fair and shows their or its true qualities, đánh giá ai/ cái gì một cách chính xác. ~ do someone/something justice Ex. Her wedding day was picture-perfect. - imprint (of something) (on somebody/something) (n) the lasting effect that a person or an experience has on a place or a situation, dấu ấn về + leave an imprint on their memory: để lại dấu ấn trong tâm trí của họ - touch somebody/something (v) to make somebody feel upset or emotional, làm ai xúc động - have an absolute blast: có một khoảng thời gian tuyệt vời - impeccable /ɪmˈpekəbl/ (a) without mistakes or faults, perfect, hoàn hảo - picture-perfect (a) exactly right in appearance or in the way things are done, completely flawless, đẹp hoàn hảo, ko tì vết Ex.It was a picture-perfect day for going fishing. Ex. Almost every hill is crowned with a picture-perfect little walled village - one-of-a-kind (a) used to describe a product or service that is the only one of its type, or that is very unusual, độc nhất, duy nhất

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FRIENDS 1. Do you have many close friends?

Actually, in the past, I was kind of in a quest to find just one singular best friend. But now, I feel very lucky to have a family of best friends, a tribe of people that deeply cares about me and only wants what’s best for me. There genuinely is no ranking/ There is no hierarchy whatsoever because my best friends come through for me in different ways. I've got a best friend that I can call up and she'll knock some sense into me. I've got a best friend that we can talk about some topics like money or business. I've got a huge range, and I love them for their different unique characteristics. VOCABULARY - in a quest to do something /kwest/ (n) a long search for something, especially for some quality such as happiness, sự tìm kiếm, theo đuổi để làm gì Ex. She does aerobics four times a week in her quest to achieve the perfect body. - tribe (n) a tribe is typically a smaller group comprised of those friends who are closest to you. A tribe consists of those friends with whom you feel most comfortable, most at ease, and most at home. Bạn có thể hiểu “tribe” là một nhóm bạn nhỏ gồm những người bạn mà bạn cảm thấy thoải mái, thân thuộc nhất. Bạn có thể tìm hiểu thêm về từ này qua link sau: https://aleteia.org/2017/03/14/the-8-types-of-women-you-absolutely-need-in-yourfriend-tribe/ - ranking /ˈræŋkɪŋ/ (n) the position of somebody/something on a scale that shows how good or important they are in relation to other similar people or things, especially in sport, thứ hạng - hierarchy (n) /ˈhaɪərɑːrki/ a system in which people or things are arranged according to their importance, hệ thống cấp bậc - whatsoever /ˌwʌtsəʊˈevər/ (adv) not at all; not of any kind + No + Danh từ + At all/ whatsoever (không chút nào) 23

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Ex: There is no hierarchy whatsoever (ko có xếp hạng một chút nào cả, kiểu như là không có khái niệm ai là số 1, ai là số 2 á) = None + At all/ whatsoever (không chút nào) Ex: There is none left whatsoever. - come through for someone: help someone in their time of need, giúp ai vào trong lúc mà họ cần Ex. I love him. He always comes through for me whenever I’m in trouble - call somebody up (phr v) to make a phone call to somebody, gọi điện cho ai - knock some sense into someone (idiom) to forcefully teach someone not to be silly, khiến người khác dừng suy nghĩ, hành xử ngu ngốc. ( Ví dụ, mỗi lần mình định làm điều gì ngu ngốc thì bạn mình sẽ nói cho mình một trận ) Ex. A couple of years in the army will knock some sense into him. - different unique characteristics: những tính cách riêng biệt

2. Do you think friendship is important?

From my point of view, friendship is part and parcel of our lives, but some people don’t see a point in it. I think it's incredible to be with someone to go through the life stages because there are so many things that are gonna happen. And two brains are way better than one. We are just social creatures as well, and it's so nice to have someone that you can lean on through thick and thin. (NOTE: gonna = going to) VOCABULARY - Be part and parcel of something /ˈpɑːrsl/ (idiom) (C2): an essential or integral component, phần cơ bản, quan trọng/thiết yếu - see a point in doing something/ see a point of something: (idiom) (C2) to understand the importance of or the reason for something, hiểu thấy được tầm quan trọng/ lý do của việc gì 24

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- go through something (phr v) to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation, trải qua tình huống khó khăn + go through the life stages: trải qua những giai đoạn trong cuộc đời - two brains are better than one = two heads are better than one: (idiom) used to say that it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone, 2 người cùng giải quyết vấn đề thì sẽ tốt hơn 1 người tự làm - way more + adj so sánh: trong trường hợp này, “way” là 1 trạng từ dùng để nhấn mạnh khi so sánh (nếu bạn xem nhiều videos, bạn sẽ thấy người bản xứ dùng rất nhiều). ->Two brains are way better than one: 2 người giải quyết vấn đề thì sẽ tốt hơn hẳn 1 người Có cả “Way too” nữa 🡪 This skirt is way too short. - lean on somebody/something /liːn/ (phr v): rely, to depend on somebody/something for help and support, dựa vào - through thick and thin (idiom) (C2): If you support or stay with someone through thick and thin, you always support or stay with them, even if there are problems or difficulties, ủng hộ hoặc ở bên ai đó dù có khó khăn hay như thế nào đi chăng nữa 3. Do you keep in contact with friends from your childhood?

Answer 1 To be honest, I don’t keep in touch with my childhood friends anymore because I’m pretty afraid of putting myself out there and being the one to initiate. Also, I know that people just have their own lives, especially when lots of my friends start having families, or they're changing their careers. I mean we’ve all got a lot on our plates, so it is impossible for us to take time to look for each other's numbers and talk about things we no longer share.

Answer 2 Well, actually, I don’t really keep in touch with my childhood friends anymore because I feel kind of awkward when being around them. 25

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That being said, two weeks ago, some of my old friends reached out to me, which made me pretty surprised. At that time, I was snowed under with a lot of work, but I still tried to carve out time to hang out with them. We hadn’t seen each other for like ten years. However, when we met, we just picked up things like nothing had ever happened. And I think it’s great to reminisce about the old days. VOCABULARY -

be, get, keep, stay, etc. in touch (with somebody): to communicate with somebody, especially by writing to them or phoning them, giữ liên lạc với ai = contact somebody = be in contact with somebody = keep in contact with somebody

- put yourself out there: make yourself known, to become more visible in the situation, to make yourself available, dấn thân ra bên ngoài Ex. If you want to make new friends at the gathering, you will have to put yourself out there - initiate /ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/ (v) to begin something Ví dụ: Bạn bè lâu rồi không gặp, nếu bạn là người “initiate”, bạn chính là người liên lạc với họ trước tiên chứ ko phải họ. - Have something on my plate (idiom): to have something, usually a large amount of important work, to deal with, có rất rất nhiều việc quan trọng phải làm Ex. I’ve got a lot on my plate at the moment. Ex. I can't take on more work - I have enough on my plate as it is! - reach out (to someone) (phr v) to try to communicate with a person or a group of people, usually in order to help or involve them, cố gắng liên lạc với ai hay 1 nhóm người (bạn là người có thiện chí liên lạc với họ) - be snowed under (with something) (idiom): have a lot of work or other things to deal with, có rất nhiều việc để xử lý, ngập trong cái gì. - carve out time: make free time for important activities; set aside time to do something, cố gắng dành thời gian cho những điều mình thấy là thực sự quan trọng - pick up (phr v) to start again; to continue, tiếp tục

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- reminisce about something/ somebody /ˌremɪˈnɪs/ (v): to think, talk or write about a happy time in your past, nhớ lại, hồi tưởng lại

4. What do you look for in a friend?

Bạn có thể bắt đầu bằng: There are many qualities I look for, however, the most important is probably openness. Ở đây mình sẽ liệt kê 2 qualities mà mình luôn tìm kiếm ở 1 người bạn, bạn có thể nhặt 1 ý và đào sâu về nó. The first quality I look for in a friend is probably openness. I really appreciate when someone is very open-minded to different beliefs, lifestyles, and is open to changing their mind. I'm also referring to an openness with their feelings, their knowledge, and their vulnerability. I mean, a friendship truly is a two-way street, and if you're not open with me, and you're still feeling guarded, I think it's really difficult to get deep. The second quality that I love in a friend is someone who can make me feel heard, someone who has mastered the skill of active listening. I would say listening is definitely an underappreciated skill/ an undervalued quality in our society, and deep listeners are becoming genuinely harder and harder to find these days. So when you run into one, it's actually so refreshing. Active listening is someone who engages in your conversation, listens to you with no distractions, asks questions to help you unpack more of your feelings, and doesn't immediately try to fix or give advice.

VOCABULARY - openness to something /ˈəʊpənnəs/(n) the quality of being able to think about, accept or listen to different ideas or people, sự cởi mở/ chấp nhận/ lắng nghe những ý tưởng khác nhau

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- open-minded about something /ˌəʊpən ˈmaɪndɪd/(a) willing to consider ideas and opinions that are new or different to your own, suy nghĩ thoáng, cởi mở về cái gì Ex. I encourage the children to be open-minded about new ideas and experiences. - be open to (a) willing to listen to and think about new ideas, sẵn sàng lắng nghe/ nghĩ về những thứ mới Ex. They are very open to new ideas. - be open with somebody (a) honest; not keeping thoughts and feelings hidden, thành thật với ai Ex. She was always open with her parents. - a two-way street (n) a situation or relationship requiring give-and-take, 1 tình huống/ 1 mối quan hệ đòi hỏi cần có sự cho đi và nhận lại Ex: marriage is a two-way street - guarded /ˈɡɑːrdɪd/ (a) (of a person or a remark they make) careful; not showing feelings or giving much information, thận trọng (không thể hiện cảm xúc nhiều hay tiết lộ nhiều thông tin) - make you feel heard: khiến bạn có cảm giác được lắng nghe - master something (v): to learn or understand something completely, hiểu hoàn toàn cái gì Ex: master the skill of active listening: cực hiểu kĩ năng nghe chủ động - an underappreciated skill /ˌʌndərəˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/: kĩ năng bị đánh giá thấp ~ an undervalued quality /ˌʌndərˈvæljuːd/ : phẩm chất bị đánh giá thấp - run into somebody (phv) to meet somebody by chance, tình cờ gặp ai - engage in something /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/(phr v) to take part in something + engage in your conversation: tham gia vào cuộc trò chuyện của bạn - unpack something /ˌʌnˈpæk/(v) to explain or examine something in order to make its meaning clearer, giải thích, xem xét cái gì để làm cho nó trở nên rõ ràng hơn. 5. How often do you go out with your friends?

Currently, I’m always snowed under with a ton of deadlines and assignments, so I don’t hang out with my friends as much as I want to anymore. Having said that, I still try to reach out to them whenever I can.

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There have been times when we've literally had to schedule our get-togethers two to three weeks in advance. But that action of setting out and blocking out a time for me makes me feel really special no matter how far advanced it is. For me, time is a very valuable currency, and so when you carve out time to make dinners and one-on-ones with me, it really warms my heart. VOCABULARY - be snowed under (with something): (idiom) have a lot of work or other things to deal with, có rất nhiều việc để xử lý, ngập trong cái gì. - hang out (phr v) to spend a lot of time in a place or with someone, đi chơi với ai - Having said that (idiom): despite what has just been said, tuy nhiên, nói thì nói vậy nhưng mà - reach out (to someone) (phr v) to try to communicate with a person or a group of people, usually in order to help or involve them, cố gắng liên lạc với ai hay 1 nhóm người (bạn là người có thiện chí liên lạc với họ) - get-together (n) a gathering of people, especially for enjoyment, sự tụ họp Ex. She went home for a family get-together over the weekend. - get together (phr v) If two or more people get together, they meet each other, having arranged it before, gặp nhau (buổi gặp mặt này đã được lên lịch từ trước) - in advance (of something/ somebody) (idiom) before something or someone, trước cái gì/ ai + Ex: She arrived in advance of everyone else. (Cô ấy đến trước tất cả mọi người) - set out: involves planning/scheduling the start time for a task or event, xếp lịch xem khi nào bắt đầu làm gì - block out: involves scheduling both the start time and the approximate duration for a task or event, sắp xếp ra 1 khoảng thời gian để làm gì [ Note: 2 cụm “set out a time” and “block out a time” này có cùng nghĩa, nếu bạn muốn tìm hiểu sâu hơn, bạn có thể xem ở link này nhé: https://hinative.com/questions/18873792) - carve out time: make free time for important activities; set aside time to do something, cố gắng dành thời gian cho những điều mình thấy là thực sự quan trọng - time is a very valuable currency: thời gian là 1 loại tiền bạc vô cùng quý giá (hoặc nói như Tiếng Việt mình thì có thể là: thời gian là vàng bạc)

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- one-on-one (n) situation, meeting, or contest involves only two people, buổi gặp riêng (2 người) - warm my heart (idiom) moves me, touches me, stirs emotion in me, sưởi ấm trái tìm tôi 6. What do you often do with your friends on weekends?

For the most part, we will hang out in a coffee shop or hit the bar if we feel up to doing it. Then we can have idle chit-chat about a bunch of different things happening in our lives. There’s nothing more fulfilling to me than having a two-way back-and-forth conversation of us opening up about our hardships, our successes, our shortcomings, and our strengths, just everything spilled out and examined together. I would say getting to spend time with my friends is so rewarding. I feel extremely connected and rejuvenated after that. VOCABULARY -

For the most part (phrase): mostly or usually, thường thì hit the bar: go to the pubs, go drinking, đi uống feel up to something (phr v) to have the energy to do something, có hứng thú làm gì have idle chit-chat about something: tán dóc về chuyện gì + Chit-chat (uncountable noun): = chat, cuộc trò chuyện về những thứ ko quan trọng + Idle (a) /ˈaɪdl/ [ thường đứng trước danh từ ]: with no particular purpose or effect - a two-way back and forth conversation: một cuộc trò chuyện qua lại hai chiều + Two-way (a) (of communication between people) needing equal effort from both people or groups involved, 2 chiều (dùng khi nói về hội thoại giữa 2 phía) Ex: Friendship is a two-way process. + Back-and-forth (noun) qua lại Ex. Parents should engage children in two-way back-and-forth conversation from a very young age - spill (something) out (phr v) to talk about or express emotion freely, thể hiện/ bộc lộ cảm xúc 30

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Ex. All his resentment spilled out. Ex. I listened quietly as she spilled out all her anger and despair. - rejuvenate (v) /rɪˈdʒuːvəneɪt/ to make someone look or feel young and energetic again, làm ai trông trẻ lại và cảm thấy tràn đầy năng lượng trở lại Ex. She felt rejuvenated by her fortnight in the Bahamas.

7. Do you think you are a good friend to others?

I would say I’m trying to be a good friend, I mean, to be a good listener and a person that my friends can rely on in their hour of need. Actually, in the past, I wasn't a very good friend. I was constantly dodging my friends’ calls and texts when I saw their names on my phone. I would flake on them. Even when I hung out with them, I would always be rattling on and on about myself, about my problems, or my experiences, just making everything about me. I never really went out of my way to hear them out in any capacity. Now, in hindsight, I realize that I used to be a friend that I wouldn’t want. So I know that I have to change otherwise I will lose lots of friends this way. Well… better late than never, right?

VOCABULARY - rely on/upon somebody/something: to need (someone or something) for support, help, etc. to depend on (someone or something) dựa vào ai/cái gì; cần sự giúp đỡ từ ai/cái gì - in someone's hour of need (idiom) at a time when someone really needs help, vào lúc ai đó rất cần sự giúp đỡ - a shoulder to cry on (idiom) (C2): someone who is willing to listen to your problems and give you sympathy, emotional support, and encouragement, 1 người lắng nghe, cảm thông, an ủi người khác khi họ đau buồn, trong hoàn cảnh tồi tệ. - dodge something /dɑːdʒ/ (v) to move quickly and suddenly to one side in order to avoid somebody/something, tránh 31

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- flake on /fleɪk/ (slang) let someone down after an arrangement was made. Drop of plans or change of plans at the last minute, bùng kèo ở phút cuối Ex: "We make plans and then he cancels. He flakes on me all the time!" - rattle on (about something) /ˈrætl/ (phr v) to talk continuously about something that is not important or interesting, especially in an annoying way, nói huyên thuyên - go out of my way to do something (idiom) (C2) make a special effort to do something, cố gắng, nỗ lực để làm gì - hear someone out (phr v) to listen to someone until they have said everything they want to say, nghe ai nói hết điều muốn nói - in any capacity: ở bất cứ mức độ nào - hindsight /ˈhaɪnd.saɪt/ (n) the ability to understand an event or situation only after it has happened, sự nhận thức muộn (nhận thức sau khi sự việc đã xảy ra) Ex. In hindsight, it would have been better to wait. Ex. With (the benefit/wisdom of) hindsight, I should have taken the job. - better late than never (idiom): muộn còn hơn không

8. Describe your best friend

When I read the cue card, the first person that springs to mind is Jenn – one of my best friends WHEN AND WHERE YOU FIRST MET THIS PERSON I met her when I was a sophomore at university, and we were studying the same subject. It sounds cliché, but I had never met anyone like her. We just clicked/ hit it off. She was witty, bright, and so easy to talk to. HOW THE PERSON IS When it comes to personality, we are polar opposites. I’m kind of like a negative person who always focuses on the negative while she’s quite laid-back and relaxed about everything. 32

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Besides, she’s also a social butterfly who can get on well with pretty much everyone. She really knows what to say to people to make them feel better. By contrast, I’m extremely blunt and definitely a huge hothead. I feel like it’s pretty hard for me to contain my emotions especially when someone gets on my nerves. I think we complement each other perfectly. Even when we have different character traits, we seem to be on the same wavelength. We’ve seen eye to eye on many things like marriage, relationships, our goals, and who we want to become in the future. WHAT YOU OFTEN DO TOGETHER Although we are always up to our ears in work, yeah… we are also living in 2 different cities, we still try to carve out time to have a chat about what’s going on in our lives. To be honest, there’s nothing more fulfilling to me than having a two-way back-andforth conversation of us opening up about our hardships, our successes, our shortcomings, our strengths, just everything spilled out and examined together. WHY THE PERSON BECOMES YOUR BEST FRIEND To me, my friend has been my rock and my anchor. She’s literally there for me all the time, and I think it's so nice to have her to lean on through thick and thin. There aren’t enough words to describe what she has done for me and my life. I look up to her and love her fiercely. VOCABULARY - spring to mind (idiom) (of a thought or idea) immediately think of something, nghĩ ngay đến gì, điều gì xuất hiện đầu tiên trong tâm trí = come to mind - cliché (a) /kliːˈʃeɪ/ often said, used, or done, and therefore not original and not interesting, là thuật ngữ chỉ một ý tưởng, lời nói, kịch bản hay một công thức rập khuôn, được dùng đi dùng lại trong sáng tạo nghệ thuật, khiến cho nó trở nên kinh điển hoặc thậm chí là nhàm chán. - click with somebody (v) to become friends with somebody at once; to become popular with somebody, thân nhau ngay (với ai) 33

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+ hit it off (with someone) (idiom) to be friendly with each other immediately, ăn ý hợp nhau ngay từ lúc đầu gặp witty (a) clever and humorous, thông mình và hài hước When it comes to someone/something: khi xem xét một số người, sự vật hoặc hành động cụ thể. opposite (n) a person or thing that is as different as possible from somebody/something else, một người/ vật trái người hoàn toàn với người/ vật kia + Polar opposites: những người hoàn toàn khác nhau, 2 thái cực hoàn toàn khác nhau Ex: Archie and Mike are polar opposites forced to live under the same roof. laid-back /ˌleɪd ˈbæk/ (a) calm and relaxed; seeming not to worry about anything, thư thái a social butterfly: a person who is socially dynamic, successful at networking, charismatic, and personally gregarious, một người dễ hòa nhập trong các buổi tiệc, sự kiện, hòa mình vào đám đông; giao thiệp rộng get on with somebody/ get along with somebody: to have a friendly relationship with somebody, có mối quan hệ tốt với ai. blunt (a) (of a person or remark) very direct; saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite, thẳng thừng, không giữ ý tứ (lời nói) hothead /ˈhɑːthed/ (n) a person who often acts too quickly, without thinking of what might happen, người nóng nảy, người nóng vội; người bộp chộp contain something (v): to keep your feelings under control, kiềm chế cái gì Ex. She was unable to contain her excitement. Ex. I was so furious I just couldn't contain myself (= I had to express my feelings). get on someone’s nerves: to annoy someone a lot, làm ai thấy phiền toái, khó chịu, bực mình complement /ˈkɑːmplɪment/ (v) If people or things complement each other, they are different or do something different, which makes them a good combination Ex. There will be a written examination to complement the practical test. Ex. We complement one another perfectly. be on the same wavelength /ˈweɪvleŋkθ/ (idiom) (C2) (of two or more people) to think in a similar way and to understand each other well, cùng tần số -> hiểu nhau, đồng tình vì có chung quan điểm hay sở thích.

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- see eye to eye on something (idiom) If you see eye to eye with someone, you agree with them and have the same opinions and views, cùng quan điểm với ai với về gì - be up to your ears in something (idiom): to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - carve out time: make free time for important activities; set aside time to do something, cố gắng dành thời gian cho những điều mình thấy là thực sự quan trọng - chat about somebody/something (countable noun) a friendly informal conversation, cuộc tán ngẫu với ai Ex. He always enjoyed a chat about the old days. + chat with somebody → I had a long chat with her. - a two-way back and forth conversation: một cuộc trò chuyện qua lại hai chiều + Two-way (a) (of communication between people) needing equal effort from both people or groups involved, 2 chiều (dùng khi nói về hội thoại giữa 2 phía) Ex. Friendship is a two-way process. + Back-and-forth (noun) qua lại Ex. Parents should engage children in two-way back-and-forth conversation from a very young age - spill (something) out (phr v): to talk about or express an emotion freely, thể hiện/ bộc lộ cảm xúc công khai - Rock (n) [ chỉ người], If someone is your rock, you feel that you can depend on them and that they will always support you, 1 người mà bạn cảm thấy có thể dựa vào, người sẽ luôn ủng hộ bạn Ex. He's always been my rock - Anchor (n) (C2) [ chỉ người] someone or something that gives support when needed, người luôn hỗ trợ, giúp đỡ bạn khi cần Ex. She was my anchor when things were difficult for me. - Lean on somebody/something (phr v): = rely, to depend on somebody/something for help and support, dựa vào

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- Through thick and thin (idiom) (C2): If you support or stay with someone through thick and thin, you always support or stay with them, even if there are problems or difficulties, ủng hộ hoặc ở bên ai đó dù có khó khăn hay như thế nào đi chăng nữa - look up to somebody (phr v) to admire or respect somebody, ngưỡng mộ và tôn trọng ai

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STUDY 1. Do you work or are you a student? ( Ở câu này mình đã trả lời luôn cho câu hỏi mình “What are you studying?” rồi nhé!)

I’m currently a freshman/ sophomore/ junior/ senior + at ….. University, and my major is English. I’m gonna be real honest with you … I just randomly picked this major because I didn’t know what I was passionate about. Yeah, it was quite daunting and off-putting at first, but over time I’ve grown fonder of this field. Now, I'm a proud English major, and I'm especially happy that I’m studying something that I am captivated by/ am absorbed in. VOCABULARY - freshman/ sophomore/ junior/ senior: sinh viên năm nhất/hai/ba/tư /ˈfreʃmən/ - /ˈsɑːfəmɔːr/ - /ˈdʒuːniər/ - /ˈsiːniər/ - major /ˈmeɪdʒər/ (n) từ “major” có 2 nghĩa, nghĩa thứ 1 là ngành học, nghĩa thứ 2 là sinh viên ngành gì. Các bạn đọc ví dụ sẽ hiểu nhé! Ex1: Her major is French. ( Ngành học của cô ấy là Tiếng Pháp) Ex2: She's a French major. (Cô ấy là sinh viên chuyên ngành Tiếng Pháp) major in something /ˈmeɪdʒər/ (phr v) to study something as your main subject at a university or college, học ngành gì Ex: I’m majoring in Accountancy ( Tôi đang học chuyên ngành Kế toán) - passionate about something /ˈpæʃənət/ (a) having or showing strong feelings of enthusiasm for something or belief in something, đam mê cái gì - grow fonder of: over time, to become more fond of someone or something, or to like them more and more over time, dần dần trở nên yêu thích cái gì hơn theo thời gian - daunting /ˈdɔːntɪŋ/ (a) making somebody feel nervous and less confident about doing something; likely to make somebody feel this way, làm sợ hãi, làm nản lòng 38

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= intimidating off-putting /ˈɔːf pʊtɪŋ/ (a) not pleasant, in a way that prevents you from liking somebody/something, khó chịu, theo cách mà ngăn cản bạn thích ai/ cái gì Be a proud + content creator: là 1 người sáng tạo nội dung đáng tự hào. Từ “proud” có thể đứng trước danh từ chỉ người nữa đó. [ bạn xem ở link này để tìm hiểu thêm nhé:https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/proud_1?q=pr oud ] especially (adv) very much; to a particular degree, cực kỳ Ex. A plentiful supply of water is especially important in summer. Ex. especially useful/interesting Ex. especially happy: cực kỳ hạnh phúc captivate /ˈkæptɪveɪt/(v) to keep somebody’s attention by being interesting, attractive, etc., làm say đắm, quyến rũ + be captivated (by something) → The children were captivated by her stories. absorbed in something/somebody /əbˈzɔːrbd/(a) very interested in something/somebody so that you are not paying attention to anything else, cực kỳ hứng thú với ai/ cái gì đến nỗi ko còn để ý đến những thứ khác nữa 2. What do you like about your major?

Well, what I love about English is that it offers a range of career options. There are so many directions you can go since proficiency in English is a highly soughtafter skill in this day and age especially when you want to look for a high-paying job. On top of that, I can access knowledge of the world. Like…. I’m currently really interested in Digital Marketing, so with English, I can dig deep into it through reading English books or learning from top online marketers in the world. How cool is that! All in all, I think it never hurts to learn English. VOCABULARY - offer a range of career options: đưa ra một loạt các lựa chọn nghề nghiệp - proficiency in something/ doing something /prəˈfɪʃnsi/(uncountable noun): the ability to do something well because of training and practice, sự thành thạo, sự thông thạo 39

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- sought-after /ˈsɔːt æftər/ (a) wanted by many people, because it is of very good quality or difficult to get or to find, được săn đón, được ưa thích - access something /ˈækses/ (v) to be able to have or use something, especially something that you have a right to, tiếp cận + access to something /ˈækses/ (n) - dig deep (into something) to search for information in a careful and detailed way, nghiên cứu, tìm tòi một cách kỹ lưỡng, đào sâu để kiếm thông tin - it doesn't hurt/never hurts to do something (idiom) it is useful or helpful to do or have something, rất có ích khi làm gì - All in all: nhìn chung 3. What do you dislike about your study? Well, I’d have to say the overwhelming workload is something that I’m not a fan of. I was under the impression that once I graduated high school, my stress levels would go down because I wouldn’t have to burn the midnight oil before exams anymore. But nope, stress levels are the same, if anything, I'm a little more stressed out now. There is just no finish line, and I’m constantly up to my ears in essays and deadlines which always loom over my head. So, I feel like it’s pretty hard for me to be fully present and find time to do what I want. VOCABULARY - the overwhelming workload /ˌəʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/ (n): khối lượng công việc quá tải - be a fan of somebody/something: a person who admires somebody/something or enjoys watching or listening to somebody/something very much was, là fan của ai/ cái gì - be under the impression that …./ɪmˈpreʃn/: believing, usually wrongly, that something is true or is happening, có cảm tưởng rằng, cứ tưởng rằng, (có cảm tưởng rằng điều gì đó là đúng, nhưng nó lại sai) - go down (phr v) giảm - burn the midnight oil (idiom): to stay awake late at night to work or study, thức khuya để học hoặc làm việc 40

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Ex. Jill has been burning the midnight oil lately. I guess she has a big exam coming up. - If anything (idiom) used when you are adding something to emphasize what you have just said, [cụm từ này sẽ dùng để nhấn mạnh những gì bạn vừa nói] Ex. I don't want to hang out with him. If anything, I prefer to avoid him. Ex. She is not friendly. If anything, she is quite rude. Để bạn có thể hiểu từ này hơn, bạn đọc thử link này nhé: https://www.studytienganh.vn/news/5281/if-anything-la-gi-va-cau-truc-cum-tuif-anything-trong-cau-tienganh#:~:text=If%20anything%3A%20n%E1%BA%BFu%20c%C3%B3%2C%20c%C3% B3%20th%E1%BB%83. - be up to your ears in something (idiom): to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - loom over my head /luːm/: It means something bad (disaster, accident, unemployment, illness, divorce, bankruptcy etc.) is about to happen to you, điều gì xấu sắp xảy ra với bạn - find (the) time (idiom): have enough time, có đủ thời gian làm gì 4. What do you like most about your school? From my point of view, there are several aspects that I find most enjoyable in my school. The first one is the environment. I mean, I get to study in English-speaking classrooms, and the facilities are up to par. All the classrooms are air-conditioned and equipped with projectors. On top of that, lecturers at my university are very supportive. If there’s anything that I don’t understand, I can just reach out to them in person or send them an email. They’ll answer me right away. Their teaching methods are also very engaging, most of the lecturers in my faculty are relatively young, so they know how to relate to us, young adults All in all, I think it’s a great place to study 41

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VOCABULARY - find something + adj (v): to have a particular feeling or opinion about something, cảm thấy cái này nó như thế nào - get to (v) to have an opportunity to do something, có cơ hội làm gì - Be up to par (idiom): as good as usual or as good as it should be, đạt yêu cầu, tiêu chuẩn Ex. She was checking to see if his work was up to par. - air-conditioned /ˈer kəndɪʃnd/(a): (of a building or car) having a system that cools and dries the air inside it, được lắp điều hòa Ex. air-conditioned offices Ex. The restaurant is fully air-conditioned. - supportive /səˈpɔːrtɪv/ (a) encouraging somebody or giving them help or sympathy, hỗ trợ, ủng hộ - reach out (to someone) (phr v) to try to communicate with a person or a group of people, usually in order to help or involve them, cố gắng liên lạc với ai hay 1 nhóm người (bạn là người có thiện chí liên lạc với họ) - in person (idiom) by meeting with someone rather than talking on the phone, emailing, or writing to the person, trực tiếp, đích thân gặp mặt ai đó - engaging /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ/ (a) interesting or pleasant in a way that attracts your attention, lôi cuốn, hấp dẫn, duyên dáng - faculty /ˈfæklti/ [countable noun] : a department or group of related departments in a college or university, bộ môn, khoa ở trường đại học : all the teachers in a faculty of a college or university, các thầy cô bộ môn ở trường đại học - relate to somebody/ something (phr v) to be able to understand and have sympathy with somebody/something, hiểu, thông cảm + relatable to somebody /rɪˈleɪtəbl/ (a) making you feel that you can understand and have sympathy with somebody, hiểu, cảm thông với ai

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5. What do you dislike about your school? I would say there are several things that leave a little to be desired. When it comes to my learning program, it just focuses more on theory as opposed to things that are hands-on, which let me down a little bit, to be honest. Like I said earlier, the facilities of my school are top-notch but the capacity of the learning facilities is not enough to accommodate the whole student population. So, I hope this will change soon. VOCABULARY - leave a little to be desired: chưa được xuất sắc cho lắm - as opposed to (idiom) rather than; instead of, thay vì - hands-on /ˌhændz ˈɑːn/ (a) [ thường đứng trước danh từ ], thực tiễn, thực hành, thực tế - let someone down (phr v) to disappoint someone by failing to do what you agreed to do or were expected to do, làm ai thất vọng - top-notch /ˌtɑːp ˈnɑːtʃ/ (adj) excellent; of the highest quality, đỉnh của chóp - accommodate somebody/something (v) /əˈkɑːmədeɪt/ to provide enough space for somebody/something, cung cấp cho - population /ˌpɑːpjuˈleɪʃn/ (n) a particular group of people or animals living in a particular area, một nhóm người/ động vật sống trong 1 khu vực riêng biệt (đừng nhầm với nghĩa dân số nhé!) Ex: the adult/student/working population

6. What is your favorite subject at school?

Answer 1, To be honest, I’m really into British and American Literature, which was the subject that I studied last semester. For me, Literature exams were just a piece of cake, so I could breeze through them with a bit of revision.

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Personally, I think this subject was very interesting because it helped broaden my horizons and also brought light to so many things that I otherwise would have never known. My personal bible was, without a doubt, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain. The way the author developed the plot really piqued my interest. It just reeled me in right after I read the first page.

Answer 2 Personally, I’m a real sucker for English, but initially, it used to be my nightmare. I was never top of the class, either from primary school all the way up through high school. My grades were just painfully average. At that time, I felt like English was all Greek to me. However, everything has changed since I got to university. I’ve become fond of this language. My obsession with it is even getting out of control these days because I feel like it really helps me broaden my horizons and also brings light to so many things that I otherwise would never know. In retrospect, choosing English as my major was definitely a wise move. VOCABULARY - Be into something: to like and be interested in something, thích, hứng thú với cái gì - a piece of cake (idiom) a thing that is very easy to do, dễ ợt - breeze through something (phr v) to do something successfully and easily, vượt qua cái gì một cách dễ dàng + breeze (n) a thing that is easy to do, việc dễ ợt (từ này hay nên mình bỏ vào nha) Ex: It was a breeze. - horizon (countable noun) the limit of your desires, knowledge or interests, (thường số nhiều) tầm nhìn, tầm hiểu biết, phạm vi kiến thức + broaden my horizons: mở rộng tầm nhìn. 44

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- bring something to light/ bring light to something (idiom) something is known to you, something helps you learn things. Ex. The government scandal was brought to light. Ex. Traveling brings to light lots of knowledge and culture - without a doubt (phrase) very definitely, không còn nghi ngờ gì nữa, chắc chắn - pique somebody’s interest, curiosity, etc. /piːk/ (idiom) to make someone interested in something and want to know more about it, khêu gợi (sự chú ý, tính tò mò…) - reel someone in /riːl/ (phr v): to lure or bring in someone or something that one wants or needs, cuốn ai vào cái gì - be a sucker for somebody/ something: to like a particular type of person or thing very much, so that you will do almost anything to please them or to have them, cực thích ai/ cái gì đến mức không thể từ chối - be top of the class: (to have) the best marks, grades, scores, or results compared to all the other students, người có điểm số cao nhất lớp - something be all Greek to me (idiom) a way of saying that you do not understand something that is said or written, tôi ko hiểu cái gì, cái gì quá khó hiểu với tôi - be fond of someone/something (a) to like someone or something very much, thích ai/ cái gì rất nhiều - obsession with somebody/something (n) the state in which a person’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a way that is not reasonable or normal, sự ám ảnh với ai/ cái gì (là 1 trạng thái mà 1 người cứ luôn nghĩ về 1 người/ 1 vật nào đó không rõ nguyên do) - out of control (phrase): if something is out of control, people are not able to limit it or make it do what they want it to do, mất kiểm soát - in retrospect /ˈret.rə.spekt/: thinking now about something in the past, nghĩ lại Ex. In retrospect, I think my marriage was doomed from the beginning. Ex. I'm sure my university days seem happier in retrospect than they really were. - a wise move: 1 nước đi sáng suốt

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7. Which subject do you find the most difficult at school? Well, actually, I've always had a thick skull when it comes to math. My mind just goes blank whenever I look at a mathematical problem. I think it’s because I don’t have a knack for crunching numbers. I even spend hours and hours doing my math homework and all this stuff, but it just doesn’t register with me. Fortunately, my teacher is very supportive and never gives up on me even though I’m a little slow on the uptake. VOCABULARY - have a thick skull /skʌl/: To be dim-witted, stupid, or an especially slow learner, ngu, châm hiểu - go blank (idiom) to forget something that you know, often temporarily, bỗng nhiên quên/không nhớ ra điều gì Ex. I went blank and couldn't think of a single example. Ex. When she asked me his name, my mind went blank. - have a knack for something: have a special or nature ability: có khả năng( đặc biệt, bẩm sinh..), hay biết cách làm gì đó cực tốt - crunch (the) numbers: (v) to do mathematical work involving large amounts of information or numbers, tính toán, phân tích một lượng lớn dữ liệu bằng số, tính toán phức tạp ~ number crunching /ˈnʌmbər krʌntʃɪŋ/ (n) - a mathematical problem: 1 bài toán - your mind is a blank/goes blank (idiom) when your mind is a blank/goes blank, you cannot remember a particular thing, or you cannot remember anything, đầu óc trống giỗng Ex. I tried to remember her name, but my mind was a complete blank/went completely blank. - register (v) If something registers, someone realizes it and if someone registers something, they realize it, hiểu cái gì Ex. I did mention the address but I'm not sure that it registered (with him). Ex. I scarcely registered the fact that he was there. - supportive /səˈpɔːrtɪv/ (a) encouraging somebody or giving them help or sympathy, hỗ trợ, ủng hộ 46

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- be quick/slow on the uptake (idiom) If someone is quick/slow on the uptake, they understand things easily/with difficulty, hiểu nhanh/ chậm hiểu

8. Would you say that you are a good student? Well, I know I’m not academically smart, but I always try my best to be a good student and not to fall behind my peers. As a student, I’ve never missed any deadlines. I take my due dates very seriously and always turn in/hand in my work on time. On top of that, I love sitting in the front of the class. I never goof off, gossip with my friends or even fall asleep while the professor is teaching. This is because I go to class truly wanting to learn something as opposed to just trying to remember exactly what the professor says or wondering what's gonna be on the exams. VOCABULARY -

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fall behind (somebody/something) (phr v) to fail to keep level with somebody/something, tụt lùi lại so với ai/ cái gì Ex. She soon fell behind the leaders. take someone/something seriously: coi trọng cái gì turn in = hand in: nộp bài sit in the front of the class: ngồi đầu goof off /ɡuːf/ (phr v) to spend your time doing nothing, especially when you should be working, tránh né, bỏ việc gossip with somebody [ about somebody/something] /ˈɡɑːsɪp/ (v) to talk about other people’s private lives, often in an unkind way, ngồi lê đôi mách, tán ngẫu với ai as opposed to (idiom) rather than; instead of, thay vì

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9. Describe your favourite subject. WHAT IT IS When I read the cue card, the first thing that pops into my head is English. HOW IT IS TAUGHT/ HOW YOU LEARN IT To be honest, English used to be my nightmare. I was never top of the class, either from primary school all the way up through high school. My grades were just painfully average. At that time, I felt like English was all Greek to me. I didn’t even understand why I had to learn by heart a bunch of monotonous grammar structures and vocabulary. However, everything has changed ever since I got to university. Being an English major has forced me to take this language very seriously. I know that I’m not academically smart, so the best idea is to bury myself in books every single day. Yeah, at first, it was quite daunting and off-putting to learn everything from scratch. But since I got the hang of it, it has become very fascinating. Besides, lecturers at my university have helped me a lot. They are really supportive and never give up on me. If there’s anything that I don’t understand, I can just reach out to them in person or send them an email. They’ll answer me right away. WHY YOU LIKE IT I would say English has truly transformed my life because it helps broaden my horizons and brings light to so many things that I otherwise would never know. Also, this language even makes me realize that excellence is available to anyone that is willing to put in the work every single day, not only reserved for the elite or insanely gifted. All in all, I’m thrilled about it, and choosing it as my major, hands down, was a lifechanging decision. VOCABULARY - pops into your head/mind: to suddenly think of something, đột nhiên nghĩ ra cái 48

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gì be top of the class: (to have) the best marks, grades, scores, or results compared to all the other students, người có điểm số cao nhất lớp all the way: the whole time (or the whole distance or journey) Ex: I was always home alone all the way up until 6:00 p.m (Tôi đã luôn ở nhà một mình tới tận 6h tối) Something be all Greek to me (idiom) a way of saying that you do not understand something that is said or written, tôi ko hiểu cái gì, cái gì quá khó hiểu với tôi learn (off) by heart: học thuộc lòng take someone/something seriously: coi trọng cái gì bury yourself in something (phr v) to give all your attention to something, vùi đầu vào cái gì, tập trung toàn bộ vào cái gì daunting /ˈdɔːntɪŋ/ (a) making somebody feel nervous and less confident about doing something; likely to make somebody feel this way, làm sợ hãi, làm nản lòng = intimidating off-putting /ˈɔːf pʊtɪŋ/ (a) not pleasant, in a way that prevents you from liking somebody/something, khó chịu, theo cách mà ngăn cản bạn thích ai/ cái gì from scratch /skrætʃ/ (idiom) without any previous preparation or knowledge, từ số không, từ đầu get the hang of something (idiom) to learn how to do something, esp. when it is not simple or obvious, nắm bắt được cái gì supportive /səˈpɔːrtɪv/ (a) encouraging somebody or giving them help or sympathy, hỗ trợ, ủng hộ reach out (to someone) (phr v) to try to communicate with a person or a group of people, usually in order to help or involve them, cố gắng liên lạc với ai hay 1 nhóm người (bạn là người có thiện chí liên lạc với họ) in person (idiom) by meeting with someone rather than talking on the phone, emailing, or writing to the person, trực tiếp, đích thân gặp mặt ai đó horizon (countable noun) the limit of your desires, knowledge or interests, (thường số nhiều) tầm nhìn, tầm hiểu biết, phạm vi kiến thức + broaden my horizons: mở rộng tầm nhìn. bring something to light/ bring light to something (idiom) something is known to you, something helps you learn things. Ex. The government scandal was brought to light. Ex. Traveling brings to light lots of knowledge and culture 49

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- put in the work: to apply the necessary amount of effort and labor to accomplish something, nỗ lực để đạt được điều gì - reserve something for somebody/something /rɪˈzɜːrv/(v) to keep something for somebody/something, so that it cannot be used by any other person or for any other reason, dành riêng cho ai/ cái gì - elite /eɪˈliːt/ or /ɪˈliːt/ (n) a small group of people in a society, etc. who are powerful and have a lot of influence, because they are rich, intelligent, etc. nhóm người ưu tú có sức ảnh hưởng trong xã hội vì họ giàu có, thông minh, … - thrilled about/at something (a) very excited and pleased, cực kỳ vui mừng, hài lòng - hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi - life-changing /ˈlaɪf tʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ (a) having such a big effect that it changes somebody's life, có tác động làm thay đổi cuộc sống của ai

10. Describe your favourite teacher. WHO HE/ SHE IS When I read this cue card, there's one teacher that stands out in my mind, and her name is Ms. Tracy - an impactful and amazing person in my life. I first came to know her when I was a freshman at university. At that time, I was studying a subject called English 1, and I was immediately struck by her teaching style which was unbelievably mesmerizing, to be honest. HOW HE/ SHE IS It sounds cliché, but I had never met anyone like her. She was witty, bright, and so easy to talk to. On top of that, she was very supportive and understanding. If there was anything that I didn’t understand, I could just reach out to her in person or send her an email. She would answer me right away. However, she might have been a little strict at times, but I think that was all part and parcel of teaching

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WHAT THIS TEACHER HELPED YOU TO LEARN Personally, I think Ms. Tracy is not only the best teacher I've had but an incredible person. To sum it up quickly, when I was a freshman at university, I was in a rut. I always felt like a huge disappointment because I had got rejected from all of my dream schools. At that time, I didn't have the energy to get up early in the morning and go to school, but she changed this. Her class made me want to show up to school and gave me a reason to get up in the morning. She also lifted me up whenever I didn’t trust myself, ignited a passion, a burning desire within me. She made me realize that I could achieve whatever I wanted as long as I gave my everything to do it. WHY YOU LIKE HIM/ HER There aren’t enough words to describe what she has done for me and my life. I look up to her and love her fiercely. VOCABULARY -

stand out (phr v): to be easily seen or noticed, nổi bật nhất impactful /ɪmˈpæktfl/ (a) having a major impact or effect, tác động mạnh mẽ first came to know somebody/ something: lần đầu biết đến ai/ cái gì be struck by/on/with somebody/something: to be impressed or interested by somebody/something; to like somebody/something very much, bị ấn tưởng/ hứng thú với ai/ cái gì - unbelievably /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbli/ (adv) extremely, cực kỳ (Từ này có 1 nghĩa khác là: “in a way that is very difficult to believe, khó tin”) - mesmerizing /ˈmezməraɪzɪŋ/ having such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your attention to anything else, mê hoặc, quyến rũ, khiến bạn ko thể dời mắt - cliché (a) /kliːˈʃeɪ/ often said, used, or done, and therefore not original and not interesting, là thuật ngữ chỉ một ý tưởng, lời nói, kịch bản hay một công thức rập khuôn, được dùng đi dùng lại trong sáng tạo nghệ thuật, khiến cho nó trở nên kinh điển hoặc thậm chí là nhàm chán. 51

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- witty (a) clever and humorous, thông mình và hài hước - reach out (to someone) (phr v) to try to communicate with a person or a group of people, usually in order to help or involve them, cố gắng liên lạc với ai hay 1 nhóm người (bạn là người có thiện chí liên lạc với họ) - in person (idiom) by meeting with someone rather than talking on the phone, emailing, or writing to the person, trực tiếp, đích thân gặp mặt ai đó - at times: sometimes, but not often, đôi lúc - Be part and parcel of something /ˈpɑːrsl/ (idiom) (C2): an essential or integral component, phần cơ bản, quan trọng/thiết yếu - Be/ stuck in a rut: ở trong tình trạng cố định, buồn tẻ. Ở đây, “rut” có nghĩ là a boring way of life that does not change (1 cách sống chán nản, chẳng có gì thay đổi) - Get into a rut/ get out of a rut: lâm vào tình trạng buồn tẻ/ thoát ra khỏi tình trạng buồn tẻ, chán trường - Disappointment /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/ (n) [countable] a person or thing that is disappointing, một lỗi thất vọng, ( có thể chỉ người hoặc vật nhé !) + disappointment to somebody 🡪 I always felt I was a disappointment to my father. - lift someone up: To make one feel happier, more confident, khiến ai vui hơn, tự tin hơn - Ignite something /ɪɡˈnaɪt/ (v) to start to burn; to make something start to burn, từ này nghĩa đen là “châm ngòi, làm cái gì cháy”, nhưng nghĩa trìu tượng của nó là “khơi dậy” - look up to somebody (phr v) to admire or respect somebody, ngưỡng mộ và tôn trọng ai

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WORK 1. Do you work or study? Answer 1 I’m currently working as a freelancer. I'm a proud copywriter, and I'm especially happy that …. I'm able to make a living out of doing something that I am head over heels for. HOẶC:

I’m able to sustain myself by doing something that I am nuts about. VOCABULARY - work as + a/an + nghề nghiệp: làm việc với tư cách là 1 …. - be a proud copywriter: là 1 copywriter đáng tự hào Từ “proud” mang nghĩa là “tự hào”, thường bạn sẽ thấy từ này trong các cấu trúc như: + proud of somebody/something/yourself + proud to be/do something Tuy nhiên, từ “proud” cũng có thể đứng trước Danh từ. Bạn tham khảo các ví dụ sau đây nhé: Ex. proud parents Ex. the proud owner of a new car - especially (adv) very much; to a particular degree, cực kỳ Ex. A plentiful supply of water is especially important in summer. Ex. especially useful/interesting Ex. especially happy: cực kỳ hạnh phúc - make a living out of (doing) (something): earn enough money from something or some pursuit that one is able to support oneself on that alone, kiếm đủ tiền từ cái gì để có thể tự chu cấp cho bản thân. - head over heels (in love) (idiom): thực sự yêu ai/ cái gì, toàn tâm toàn ý, yêu tha thiết [đây là một strong expression, vậy nên khi dùng cụm từ, bạn hãy thể hiện 1 cảm xúc thực sự mãnh liệt nhé ] Ex. Laura fell head over heels in love with Chris. Ex. I’m head over heels in love with that truck. 54

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Để bạn có thể hiểu rõ cách dùng từ này hơn, bạn click vào link này nhé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0UGpG5Qgoo - sustain somebody/something /səˈsteɪn/ (v) (C1) to provide enough of what somebody/something needs in order to live or exist, cung cấp đủ những gì cần thiết để sống, tồn tại - be nuts about something/someone /nʌts/ (a) to be very enthusiastic about an object, activity, or person, cực kì thích cái gì, ai. Note: Từ “nuts” trong trường hợp này là 1 tính từ, bạn nhớ nhe, hehe!

Answer 2 I graduated from university last May, and I'm trying to build a clothing business, brand, and all that kinda stuff. Also, I have my other side hustle just to make sure that I’m able to support myself in other ways. As someone who is very risk-averse, I want a safety net, and I will still work at it until I have some financial stability, and then go fulltime. NOTE: “kinda” là cách nói tắt của “kind of” VOCABULARY - side hustle /ˈsaɪd hʌsl/ (n): a part-time job that a person does as well as their regular job, nghề tay trái Ex. Here are some ideas for a side hustle. - risk-averse /ˈrɪsk əvɜːrs/ (a) not willing to do something if it is possible that something bad could happen as a result, e ngại rủi ro Ex. We live in a risk-averse culture. Ex. In business, you cannot be innovative and risk-averse at the same time. - safety net /ˈseɪfti net/ (n) an arrangement that helps to prevent disaster if something goes wrong, một sự sắp xếp để giúp ngăn chặn rủi ro nếu có điều gì không hay xảy ra Ex. a financial safety net

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2. Why did you choose to do that type of work? Ở đây, mình có một vài cách trả lời, các bạn tham khảo nhé! Answer 1: Vì bị gia đình bắt ép: (Ví dụ bạn hiện tại đang là giáo viên, chuẩn bị đổi sang nghề làm copywriter) To be honest, being a teacher wasn’t my choice in the first place. You know, growing up in an Asian household, there were a lot of rules and expectations that my parents put on me. I had no say in what I would do for a living in the future, and my parents were the ones who called the shots. Looking back/ In hindsight, I realize that I didn’t stick to my guns and just let myself be pushed into a corner. But, now I know I’m passionate about copywriting, and that’s what I’m meant to do. Answer 2: Vì muốn nối nghiệp gia đình: Actually, I grew up in an entrepreneurial household. And I felt like I was meant to do something big. It was in my blood and in my bones. So, I just decided to follow in my dad’s footsteps, and this is the reason why I’m trying to build my own business. Answer 3: Vì kiếm được nhiều tiền $$: Well, I was dead set on being a content creator after seeing what a lavish lifestyle that content creators could lead. It was pretty challenging at first because I had to learn everything from scratch and accept working from next to nothing. After going through all sorts of ups and downs, now I make what I consider a lucrative income and do whatever I want. Answer 4: Đơn giản là mình thích: Actually, I was a real sucker for freedom, and my dream was to become a digital nomad. After graduating from school, I felt like I would have been crippled if I had had to work a nine-to-five job. At that point, my obsession with copywriting started to ramp up. So I just went with my gut because I knew that it made me so happy. And if I was gonna fail at doing something I loved, I would rather do that. VOCABULARY 56

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- in the first place (phrase) in or at the beginning (of a series of events), ngay từ lúc đầu - have a, some, etc. say in something (idiom) to be involved in making a decision about something, có tiếng nói trong vấn đề gì + have a say in something: được nói lên tiếng nói hay ý kiến của mình Ex. When he's 18, he'll begin to have a say in the running of the family business. + have no say in something: không có quyền lên tiếng; không được nói lên ý kiến; không có quyền hạn; không có quyền lực để quyết định điều gì đó Ex. The employees had no say in the restructuring of the company. - call the shots (idiom) to be the person who controls or organizes a situation, làm chủ một vấn đề gì đó hoặc đưa ra những quyết định quan trọng - stick to your guns (idiom) to continue to have your beliefs or continue with a plan of action, even if other people disagree with you, giữ vững quan điểm, kiên định lập trường - push someone into a corner: to put someone in a position where the only option they have is to do something they didn't want to do. Đặt ai vào tình huống mà họ buộc phải làm gì đó mặc dù họ ko muốn + You'll also see "to back someone into a corner". ( cụm này kiểu sẽ hơi tiêu cực so với “push someone into a corner” ) - be meant to do something /ment/: to be required or supposed; to have to, cần làm gì - entrepreneurial /ˌɑːn.trə.prəˈnʊr.i.əl/ (a) connected with making money by starting or running businesses, especially when this involves taking financial risks, liên quan đến kinh doanh Ex. Students use their entrepreneurial skills to present a business plan. - be in the/someone's blood (idiom): If an ability or skill is in someone's blood, they have it naturally, usually because it already exists in their family. “Ở trong máu của ai”. (Ý nói đến một kỹ năng/ khả năng mà ở trong máu của ai, nghĩa là người đó sở hữu một cách tự nhiên vì trong nhà có người có khả năng/ kỹ năng đó rồi) Ex. His father and grandmother were painters too, so it's obviously in the blood. - in my bones /bəʊnz/ (idiom): to feel certain about something, although you cannot explain or prove it. [Usually used with verbs like "feel," "believe," "know," etc.] “Cảm thấy chắc chắn về cái gì mặc dù bạn không thể lý giải” Ex. I know I'm going to fail this exam—I can feel it in my bones. 57

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- follow in someone’s footsteps: to do the same job or the same things in your life as someone else, especially a member of your family, nối nghiệp ai đó trong gia đình Ex. He followed in his father's footsteps and became an actor. - be dead set on (doing) something (phrase): to be very determined to do or have something, cực kì quyết tâm để làm gì hay có thứ gì. + be dead set against (doing) something: to be completely opposed to something, hoàn toàn phản đối cái gì - lead a lavish lifestyle: sống một lối sống xa hoa + lavish /ˈlævɪʃ/ (a) large in amount, or impressive, and usually costing a lot of money, xa hoa - next to nothing (idiom) almost nothing, very little, gần như không có gì cả, hoặc có nhưng số lượng rất nhỏ - from scratch /skrætʃ/ (idiom) without any previous preparation or knowledge, từ số không, từ đầu - ups and downs /ˌʌps ən ˈdaʊnz/ (n) the mixture of good and bad things in life or in a particular situation or relationship, thăng trầm, sự hội tụ của cả những điều tốt và xấu trong cuộc sống/ trong 1 tình huống nào đó/ hay trong mối quan hệ. - a lucrative income (n phrase): lương lậu ngon, + lucrative /ˈluːkrətɪv/ (a) producing a large amount of money; making a large profit, tạo ra, kiếm được rất nhiều tiền, Ex. a lucrative career Ex. a lucrative business/contract/deal,… - be a sucker for somebody/ something: to like a particular type of person or thing very much, so that you will do almost anything to please them or to have them, cực thích ai/ cái gì đến mức không thể từ chối - digital nomad /ˌdɪdʒɪtl ˈnəʊmæd/ (n) a person who earns a living working online in different locations that they choose for themselves, dân “xê dịch” làm việc online - cripple /ˈkrɪpl/(v) to seriously damage or harm somebody/something + be crippled (by something) → The industry has been financially crippled by these policies. - nine-to-five job (n) a job during regular business hours usually in an office, công việc hành chính - obsession with somebody/something /əbˈseʃn/ (n) the state in which a person’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a way 58

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that is not reasonable or normal, sự ám ảnh với ai/ cái gì (là 1 trạng thái mà 1 người cứ luôn nghĩ về 1 người/ 1 vật nào đó không rõ nguyên do) - ramp up /ræmp/ (phr v) to increase or cause to increase, tăng (cái gì tự tăng)/ hoặc đẩy mạnh cái gì Với nghĩa “đẩy mạnh/ làm tăng cái gì”, ta có ví dụ: Ex. The company quickly ramped up production to meet the demand. ( Công ty này đã nhanh chóng đẩy mạnh sản xuất để đáp ứng nhu cầu) - go with your gut: to make a decision based on something that you are certain about, even though you do not have any direct proof and cannot explain why you are certain. “Đưa ra 1 quyết định dựa theo linh cảm, dựa theo những gì mà bạn chắc chắn nhưng chưa có bằng chứng xác thực hay bạn cũng chưa thể lý giải được tại sao. Ex. I went with my gut and turned down the job.

Why did you choose to do that type of work? Đây là câu trả lời của mình trong tình huống hàng ngày nếu có ai hỏi mình tại sao mình chọn công việc mà mình đang làm. Phần này tuy dài, sẽ không phù hợp cho part 1 trong IELTS, tuy nhiên, bạn có thể biến tấu thành câu chuyện của mình và dùng nó cho part 2 hoặc nói chuyện thông thường.

The reason why I was dead set on building my own business was because I wanted to make a lot of money so that my parents could retire. To sum it up, my dad had to work in dangerous locations. There was a time that he escaped death when a concrete block fell down and almost hit him. When he told me that story, this lit a fire in/under me because I never wanted my parents to be in a situation like that ever again. It made me want to try so hard and to be able to provide for them. Now, whenever I’m feeling unmotivated, I think of it, and it just snaps me right back up and fuels me to push harder. And this is my deep-seated emotional reason. VOCABULARY - be dead set on (doing) something (phrase): to be very determined to do or have something, cực kì quyết tâm để làm gì hay có thứ gì. 59

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+ be dead set against (doing) something: to be completely opposed to something, hoàn toàn phản đối cái gì - a highly-paid slave (noun phrase): nô lệ được trả lương cao - on my own terms: If you do something on your terms, you do it under conditions that you decide because you are in a position of power. Ở đây khi bạn dùng “live my life on my own terms”, cụm này có nghĩa là bạn là người quyết định mình sống như thế nào - light a fire under somebody (idiom): stimulate (someone) to work or act more quickly or enthusiastically, khuyến khích/thúc đẩy ai làm việc nhanh hơn và hào hứng hơn, thắp lên ngọn lửa trong ai - snap back (phrv) to quickly return to a previous condition, nhanh chóng quay trở về tình trạng ban đầu - fuel someone /ˈfjuːəl/ (v) encourage someone, inspire someone, khuyến khích, cổ vũ động viên ai - push harder (v) to work harder, to try harder, làm việc chăm chỉ hơn nữa, cố gắng nhiều hơn nữa - deap-seated /ˌdiːp ˈsiːtɪd/ (a) very fixed and strong; difficult to change or to destroy, từ này thường đứng trước danh từ, có nghĩa là chắc chắn, vững chắc Mình đã đọc rất nhiều bài chia sẻ của anh/chị thi IELTS speaking được điểm cao, trong đó có đề cập tới khả năng STORYTELLING (kể chuyện). Nếu bạn biết cách dẫn dắt và kể một câu chuyện, bạn có thể xử lý được rất nhiều đề lạ. Dưới đây là một tip kể chuyện mình lượm được từ cuốn sách “Sell with a story”: ● 1 câu chuyện cần 5 yếu tố. 1 Thời gian – 2 Nơi chốn – 3 Nhân vật chính – 4 Một trở ngại – 5 Các sự kiện diễn ra Mình thường xây dựng câu chuyện theo kiểu: cho nhân vật chính gặp trở ngại 🡪 và khi vấn đề lên đến một đỉnh điểm (climax), nhân vật chính ko thể chịu được nữa 🡪 nhân vật chính buộc phải làm gì đó để thay đổi

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3. What do you like about your job? Answer 1: Câu trả lời dành cho dân làm việc online/ hoặc self-employed. Actually, I've done so many jobs in the past, and I would say this is the best job I've ever had. It allows me to support myself, to provide for my family, and also to live my life on my own terms. Besides, being a freelancer means that I don’t have to worry about office politics or try to establish a good rapport with my workmates, which are definitely my pet peeves. All in all, I would say, this job just ticks all my boxes, and I’m just crazy about it. VOCABULARY - on my own terms: If you do something on your terms, you do it under conditions that you decide because you are in a position of power, theo cách riêng của bạn ( bạn là người quyết định làm cái gì) Ở đây khi bạn dùng “live my life on my own terms”, cụm này có nghĩa là bạn là người quyết định mình sống như thế nào - office politics: the activities, attitudes, or behaviors that are used to get or keep power or an advantage within a business or company. “chính trị công sở” hay có thể giải thích là sự phân chia quyền lực, tầm ảnh hưởng trong các công ty, công sở, nơi làm việc - establish a good rapport with somebody: hình thành mối quan hệ thân thiết tốt với ai. + rapport /ræˈpɔːr/ (n) a friendly relationship in which people understand each other very well, có nghĩa là 1 mối quan hệ thân thiện mà mọi người hiểu nhau rất rõ - workmate = colleague (n) /ˈkɑːliːɡ/: đồng nghiệp - pet peeve /ˈpet ˈpiv/ (n) something that especially annoys you, thứ mà làm bạn cực kỳ khó chịu - tick all the/somebody’s boxes: to do exactly the right things to please somebody, đáp ứng mọi tiêu chí/mong muốn của ai Ex. The house we would like to buy ticks all our boxes. - be crazy about someone/something (a): to be very interested in something or love someone very much, cực kỳ thích cái gì / rất yêu ai 61

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Answer 2: Câu trả lời cho dân văn phòng/ hoặc những người đang đi làm cho 1 tổ chức) Well, I think it’s a very interesting line of work, and I love it for a bunch of different reasons. For one, I make what I consider a lucrative income, which allows me not only to cover my bills but also to lead a comfortable lifestyle/life. Like, on payday, I can treat myself to a nice meal at a gourmet restaurant or splurge on something expensive. On top of that, the working environment really ticks all my boxes. I mean the facilities are up to par/ top-notch, and my colleagues are very nice as well. I also get to work in a close-knit team. So, after getting off work, we usually hit the bar and grab a couple of drinks, which definitely makes me feel super connected and rejuvenated. VOCABULARY - line of work (noun phrase) the work that a person does regularly in order to earn money, nghề - cover my bills (v) trả tiền hóa đơn (tiền điện, tiền nước, …) - lead a comfortable lifestyle/life: sống 1 cuộc sống thoải mái - payday (n) the day on which you get your wages or salary, ngày lĩnh lương - treat somebody/yourself (to something) (v) to pay for something that someone/you will enjoy and that you do not usually have or do, thưởng cho ai/bản thân cái gì Ex. She treated him to lunch. ( cô ấy bao anh ta ăn trưa) Ex. I'm going to treat myself to a new pair of shoes.(tôi tự thưởng cho mình 1 đôi giày mới) - gourmet /ˈɡʊrmeɪ/ (a) (of food, drink, etc.) of high quality and often expensive; connected with food or drink of this type, (từ này thường đứng trước danh từ), cao cấp ~ high-end (a) - splurge (something) (out) (on something) /splɜːrdʒ/ (v): to spend a lot of money on something that you do not really need, tiêu xài phung phí vào những thứ mà bạn không thực sự cần 62

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Ex. He splurged his whole week’s wages on a champagne dinner. tick all the/somebody’s boxes: to do exactly the right things to please somebody, đáp ứng mọi tiêu chí/mong muốn của ai Ex. The house we would like to buy ticks all our boxes. top-notch (adj) excellent; of the highest quality, đỉnh của chóp Be up to par (idiom): as good as usual or as good as it should be, đạt yêu cầu, tiêu chuẩn close-knit (a) (of a group of people) having strong relationships with each other and taking a close, friendly interest in each other’s activities and problems, gần gũi, khăng khít

- Get off (phv) to leave work with permission, usually at the end of the day, đi làm về, tan ca, tan sở - Hit the bar: go to the pubs, go drinking, đi uống - rejuvenate /rɪˈdʒuːvəneɪt/ (v) to make someone look or feel young and energetic again, làm ai trông trẻ lại và cảm thấy tràn đầy năng lượng trở lại Ex. She felt rejuvenated by her fortnight in the Bahamas. 4. What do you dislike about your job? Like I said earlier, I really like my job but the overwhelming workload is definitely not my cup of tea. I’m always up to my ears in deadlines and assignments, which is why I’m stressed out all the time. There is no finish line, and work is always a continuous flow now. However, I know that in order to achieve what I want, all I need to do is to put my head down and work non-stop for the next six years. And I wholeheartedly believe that my hard work will pay off. VOCABULARY - not somebody’s cup of tea (n):(informal) not what somebody likes or is interested in, ko phải là cái mà ai đó thích - be up to your ears in something (idiom) : to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - get/put your head down: to start working in a quiet determined way, tập trung cao độ làm gì - stressed (out) (a) worried and nervous, căng thẳng 63

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- wholeheartedly /ˌhəʊlˈhɑːrtɪdli/ (adv) completely, in an enthusiastic way + wholeheartedly believe: hoàn toàn tin tưởng - pay off: (of a plan or an action, especially one that involves risk) to be successful and bring good results, có lợi nhuận, thành công Ex. I wholeheartedly believe that my hard work will pay off. (Tôi hết lòng tin tưởng rằng công sức của mình sẽ được đền đáp) Sẽ có một vài lý do để bạn ko thích ở công việc mình đang làm, mình sẽ liệt kê từ và cụm từ hay ho ở dưới đây nhé CHÁN: tedious, monotonous, repetitive, mind-numbing, soul-destroying, mechanical. Ex. My job is very monotonous and kind of soul-destroying. Day in, day out, I have to perform repetitive tasks over and over again, which literally drives me insane. All I ever think about is knocking off at five. ÁP LỰC: - I’m always stressed out. - I have a lot of paperwork to do. - I have a very heavy/overwhelming workload. - I’m always snowed under with a ton of deadlines and assignments. - I’ve got a very hectic schedule which means I’m always up to my ears in deadlines. That leaves me with very little quality time for family and friends LƯƠNG THẤP: I’m overworked and underpaid. I haven't received a raise in more than two years. GÒ BÓ: - I hate to feel trapped in my job and to be stuck in a rut. - I’m stuck behind a desk. - It’s a dead-end job. VOCABULARY - tedious (a) /ˈtiːdiəs/ lasting or taking too long and not interesting, chán ngắt 64

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- monotonous (a) /məˈnɑːtənəs/ never changing and therefore boring, đơn điệu, đều đều = repetitive (a) /rɪˈpetətɪv/: lặp đi lặp lại - mind-numbing (a) /ˈmaɪnd nʌmɪŋ/ very boring, cực chán - soul-destroying (a) /ˈsəʊl dɪstrɔɪɪŋ/ (of a job or task) very boring, because it has to be repeated many times or because there will never be any improvement, chán ngắt, nhàm (dùng khi nói tới 1 công việc/ nhiệm vụ) - mechanical (a) /məˈkænɪkl/ (of people’s behaviour and actions) done without thinking, like a machine, máy móc, không suy nghĩ ( dùng khi nói về hành vi/ hành động của con người) = routine - day in day out (idiom) (especially of something boring) done or happening every day for a long period of time, ngày qua ngày (đặc biệt dùng khi nói về 1 cái gì đó chán) - drive someone + crazy/nuts/up the wall/ insane (idiom) to make someone upset or annoyed, làm ai phát điên - knock off (something) (phv): to stop working, usually at the end of the day, dừng làm việc, nghỉ ra về - be stressed (out ) (a): căng thẳng, lo âu - paperwork /ˈpeɪpərwɜːrk/ (uncountable noun): letters, reports to write, forms to complete, công việc giấy tờ (ở cơ quan) - meet a tight/ strict deadline: hoàn thành kịp hạn chót trong khoảng thời gian eo hẹp - Have a very heavy/light workload: có 1 khối lượng công việc lớn/ nhẹ - be snowed under (with something): (idiom) have a lot of work or other things to deal with, có rất nhiều việc để xử lý, ngập trong cái gì. - hectic (a) very busy; full of activity, rất bận Ex. Today was too hectic for me. Ex. The job gets a bit hectic at times. - be up to your ears in something (idiom) : to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - be overworked and underpaid : làm việc quá sức và bị trả lương thấp (2 từ này thường đi cùng nhau như 1 cụm cố định, chúng ta cũng không thể đảo ngược vị trí 2 từ này cho nhau được nhé) - feel trapped + adv/prep: to keep somebody in a bad situation that they want to get out of but cannot, bị mắc kẹt 65

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- Be/ stuck in a rut: ở trong tình trạng cố định, buồn tẻ. [Ở đây, “rut” có nghĩ là “a boring way of life that does not change” - 1 cách sống chán nản, chẳng có gì thay đổi) 5. What are some of the important things a candidate should find out before accepting a job? Choosing a new job or career is a big life-changing decision. There are several things that people should always take into serious consideration before they say yes to a brand-new shiny job offer. 1. You should clearly understand the tasks and responsibilities that you’ll be doing on a day-to-day basis. If you take a job that requires repetitive tasks, you might find yourself feeling stagnant or simply bored. Moreover, you should know whether these tasks and responsibilities are going to help you grow your breadth of knowledge and experience and give you a good foundation for the next position that you want to get into. 2. On top of that, compensation is another key factor. You’d need to know if the pay is in line with your skill set, your abilities, your qualifications for that particular position. 3. You can also consider some things like annual leave, holiday entitlement, maternity or paternity leave if you’re thinking of having children. VOCABULARY - life-changing /ˈlaɪf tʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ (a) having such a big effect that it changes somebody's life, thay đổi cuộc đời - take something into consideration (collocation) to think carefully about a particular fact when deciding or judging something, cân nhắc, tính đến một yếu tố nào đấy trước khi quyết định vì vấn đề đó quan trọng = take something into account = take account of something = consider something 66

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- brand new (a) completely new, cực mới, (từ này mình thấy người bản xứ dùng cực nhiều, ví dụ: a brand-new car) - stagnant /ˈstæɡnənt/ (a) not developing, growing or changing, đình trệ - breadth /bredθ/ (n) a wide range (of knowledge, interests, etc.), độ rộng (về mặt kiến thức,..) Ex. The breadth of his knowledge of history was impressive. - compensation /ˌkɑːmpenˈseɪʃn/ (n) the combination of payment and other benefits that an employee receives for doing their job, tiền trả cho nhân viên bao gồm: tiền lương, tiền thưởng, và các lợi ích khác Ex. Annual compensation for our executives includes salary and bonus under our incentive plan. - in line with something (idiom) similar to, or at the same level as something, phù hợp với, tương đương với. - skill set (n phr): a person’s range of skills or abilities, bộ kỹ năng và những khả năng của 1 người - annual leave (n phr): nghỉ phép hàng năm - holiday entitlement (n phr) number of days you have the right to take as holiday, chế độ ngày nghỉ được hưởng lương - maternity or paternity leave: nghỉ thai sản cho phụ nữ hoặc đàn ông + be on/ take + maternity or paternity leave - be on/ take sick leave: nghỉ ốm 6. Describe a job you would like to do in the future. WHAT THE JOB IS When I read the cue card, the first occupation that comes to mind is to become a copywriter. WHY YOU CHOSE IT I first learned about/came to know about this career choice a few months ago. To sum it up quickly, at that point, I was in a rut. I just always felt like a huge disappointment because I was working in a dead-end job, and I couldn’t see a way out. I felt so stuck and stagnant. And it got to the point where I was tired of waiting for things to happen for me. I wanted to do something about it. 67

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So instead, I tried to make my own luck. I watched thousands of videos on Youtube about how I could get out of the rat race and be financially free. Then I was instantly drawn to copywriting, which was one of the best high-income skills. WHAT IT INVOLVES I would say being a copywriter is not easy at all since this job entails a wide range of skills like SEO, Research, Storytelling, and all tools of the trade. Also, it might be pretty challenging at first because I will have to learn everything from scratch and accept working from next to nothing. You know, success doesn't happen overnight, it requires patience, time, and putting in the work every single day. So, in order to be successful in this career, I’ll need to be tenacious and never give up on my dream. AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS JOB The reason why I’m dying to be/ I’m dead set on being a copywriter is that I love marketing, or copywriting to be specific. My obsession with it is getting out of control these days. Moreover, I’m a firm believer that this job will allow me to support myself, to provide for my family, and also to live my life on my own terms. VOCABULARY - spring to mind (idiom) (of a thought or idea) immediately think of something, nghĩ ngay đến gì, điều gì xuất hiện đầu tiên trong tâm trí = come to mind - first came to know somebody/ something: lần đầu biết đến ai/ cái gì - Be/ stuck in a rut: ở trong tình trạng cố định, buồn tẻ. Ở đây, “rut” có nghĩa là a boring way of life that does not change (1 cách sống chán nản, chẳng có gì thay đổi) - Disappointment /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/ (n) [countable] a person or thing that is disappointing, một lỗi thất vọng, ( có thể chỉ người hoặc vật nhé !)

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+ disappointment to somebody 🡪 I always felt I was a disappointment to my father. A dead-end job: job with no prospects of promotion, công việc ko có cơ hội thăng tiến way out (n) a way of escaping from a difficult situation, 1 cách để thoát khỏi tình trạng khó khăn hiện tại stagnant /ˈstæɡnənt/ (a) not developing, growing or changing, đình đốn, trì trệ do something about something: to do something to solve a problem or stop a bad situation, làm gì đó để giải quyết vấn đề và chấm dứt tình trạng tồi tệ Ex. If we don’t do something about it, the problem is going to get worse. make (one's) own luck: To rely on one's skill, ability, and perseverance to capitalize on opportunity, rather than relying solely on luck itself, tạo ra vận may của chính mình -> cụm từ này nghĩa là thành công dựa vào nỗ lực, khả năng sử dụng kỹ năng, năng lực, sự kiên trì và tận dụng cơ hội, chứ không đơn thuần dựa vào may mắn. the rat race: a way of life in modern society, in which people compete with each other for power and money, cuộc bon chen (trong xã hội, trong việc cạnh tranh về việc làm, tiền bạc...) Get out of/ escape + the rat race: thoát khỏi cuộc chạy đua chuột >< get caught up in the rat race: mắc vào cuộc chạy đua chuột draw somebody to something (v) to attract or interest somebody, thu hút ai vào cái gì entail /ɪnˈteɪl/ (v) to involve something that cannot be avoided, đòi hỏi, cần phải có (không có không được) all tools of the trade (phrase): The tools of your trade or the tools of the trade are the skills, instruments, and other equipment that you need in order to do your job properly, tất cả những kỹ năng, đạo cụ, thiết bị để bạn làm 1 công việc một cách okela from scratch (idiom) : without any previous preparation or knowledge, từ số không, từ đầu next to nothing (idiom) almost nothing, very little, gần như không có gì cả, hoặc có nhưng số lượng rất nhỏ put in the work: to apply the necessary amount of effort and labor to accomplish something, nỗ lực để đạt được điều gì tenacious /təˈneɪʃəs/ (a) that does not stop holding something or give up something easily; determined, kiên trì, không bỏ cuộc dễ dàng 69

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- be dying for/to do something (idiom) to be extremely eager to have or do something, cực kỳ háo hức để làm gì - be dead set on (doing) something (phrase): to be very determined to do or have something, cực kì quyết tâm để làm gì hay có thứ gì. + be dead set against (doing) something: to be completely opposed to something, hoàn toàn phản đối cái gì - obsession with somebody/something (n) the state in which a person’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a way that is not reasonable or normal, sự ám ảnh với ai/ cái gì (là 1 trạng thái mà 1 người cứ luôn nghĩ về 1 người/ 1 vật nào đó không rõ nguyên do) - out of control (phrase): if something is out of control, people are not able to limit it or make it do what they want it to do, mất kiểm soát - be a (great/firm) believer in something: to believe strongly that something is good and effective, tin tưởng mạnh sẽ vào điều gì tốt/ hiệu quả - on my own terms: If you do something on your terms, you do it under conditions that you decide because you are in a position of power. Ở đây khi bạn dùng “live my life on my own terms”, cụm này có nghĩa là bạn là người quyết định mình sống như thế nào

Dưới đây mình sẽ liệt kê một vài thứ mà 1 công việc yêu cầu nhé, bạn có thể chọn cái nào phù hợp với mình nha: - This job requires me to use my intelligence (sự thông minh), self-reliance (sự tự lực), and responsibility (trách nhiệm) - Have a tough mind (có 1 tinh thần thép) and a strong, positive personality (tính cách mạnh mẽ, tích cực). - Deal with (xử lý) rapidly-changing and unpredictable situations that will test my resourcefulness to the limit - Maintain and develop relationships with a diverse range of clients - Come up with novel ideas

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- Resourcefulness /rɪˈsɔːrsflnəs/ (uncountable noun) the quality of being good at finding ways of doing things and solving problems, etc., tài tháo vát, tài xoay sở - close-knit (a) (of a group of people) having strong relationships with each other and taking a close, friendly interest in each other’s activities and problems, gần gũi, khăng khít - diverse (a) /daɪˈvɜːrs/ very different from each other and of various kinds, khác nhau - Come up with novel ideas: nghĩ ra ý tưởng mới + novel (a) different from anything known before; new, interesting and often seeming slightly strange, mới lạ, chưa từng có 7. Để có thể làm việc hiệu quả và thành công Dưới đây là những từ rất hay mà người bản xứ sử dụng liên quan đến chủ đề JOBS, bạn đọc tham khảo nhé!

As a freelancer, your reputation is everything. + If you drop the ball over and over again, word spreads so quickly, and no one's gonna want to work with you. So make sure that you are on time, that you are kind to people, that you are always doing your best, that you're prepared. =>These things are so, so, so, so crucial when it comes to freelancing. Be communicative, be direct. + Even if you are amazing at what you do, if you always have a stank attitude at work, and you're constantly late and flaky. I'm sorry, but no one is gonna want to work with you. Let's say you're a mediocre photographer, but you have a bright attitude, you are always on time, you are super communicative and you make me feel safe. I will just go with you. VOCABULARY - drop the ball (idiom) to make a mistake, especially by not taking action or dealing with something that should have been planned for, mắc lỗi - be on time : at the right time, đúng giờ - be amazing at something: giỏi, tuyệt về cái gì 71

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- stank attitude: bad attitude or being rude, thái độ lồi lõm (từ này là slang, khuyến cáo không dùng ở phòng thi nhé, ^ ^) + have a stank/negative attitude >< have a bright attitude - flaky /ˈfleɪki/ (a) [ tính từ chỉ người] flaky people have trouble managing their time, staying organized, and controlling their impulses, so they might forget things, be late, cancel plans, or have trouble keeping up with responsibilities. , chỉ những người không đáng tin cậy, hay thất hứa, và bùng kèo. - mediocre /ˌmiːdiˈəʊkər/ (a) not very good; of only average standard, xoàng Ex. mediocre actor: diễn viên xoàng

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HOMETOWN 1. Where are you from? I was born and raised in the suburbs of Hanoi, and I’ve been living here all my life. In fact, I still live in my childhood home. Yeah, it's not far from downtown, just a short drive. Therefore, it’s really convenient for me to commute to the city center on a daily basis. Hoặc: The Daily commute to the city center is just a breeze. VOCABULARY - Suburb /ˈsʌbɜːrb/ (n) an area where people live that is outside the centre of a city, khu vực ngoài trung tâm thành phố + In the suburbs of (something): ở vùng ngoại ô - outskirts /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/ (n) the parts of a town or city that are furthest from the centre, những khu vực xa trung tâm nhất ở 1 thị trấn/ 1 thành phố + on the outskirts (of something): ở vùng ngoại ô - downtown /ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/ (uncountable noun) the centre of a city, especially its main business area, trung tâm thành phố, đặc biệt là khu vực giao thương chính. (Ví dụ Hà Nội thì có quận Hoàn Kiếm là trung tâm nhất) - drive (countable noun): a journey in a car or other vehicle, chuyến đi xe + a short drive: 1 chuyến đi ngắn + It's a three-hour drive to London. ( Đó là một chuyến đi 3 tiếng tới London) - commute /kəˈmjuːt/ (n) a regular journey between work and home, hành trình đi giữa 2 nơi: chỗ làm và nhà Ex. a two-hour commute into downtown Washington - breeze /briːz/ (n) a thing that is easy to do, việc dễ làm, việc ngon ơ

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2. What do you like about your hometown? Answer 1 To be honest, my hometown has a special place in my heart, and I love it for lots of reasons. For one, I love soaking up the stunning views of nature in my birthplace which has majestic mountains, winding alleys, endless paddy fields, etc. I don’t know why but the beauty of my hometown always takes my breath away. Moreover, the laid-back atmosphere and slow pace of life really make this a great place to recharge. I think it’s amazing when I can be outside, in my hometown, and be free from the daily grind of work and routine. On top of that, my hometown’s got a very friendly vibe. I mean my neighbors are incredibly helpful and friendly to each other. They’re so willing to give each other a hand. For example, when I’m away on holiday, I can always ask my neighbors to keep an eye on my house.

Answer 2 To be honest, my hometown has a special place in my heart, and I love it for lots of reasons. As a city person, I can’t resist the allure of this metropolis where things are glamorous and constantly changing. Also, living here is way more convenient because all the amenities are within walking distance. For example, there are a lot of transport hubs including a sky train system or electric bus lines that were already running/ operating/ put into effect. Personally, I’m really into hanging out with my friends at Ta Hien Street, which is a bustling downtown area. And I would say this is the best place to enjoy Hanoi’s lively nightlife. 75

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VOCABULARY - (something) holds a special place in (one's) heart: something is very emotionally important to you, cái gì cực kỳ quan trọng với ai, chiếm vị trí đặc biệt trong tim ai. Note: Bạn cũng có thể dùng từ “have” thay thế cho “hold”, người bản xứ thường dùng từ “have” hơn. - soak up (phr v) to experience something good or pleasant with your senses, your body or your mind = enjoy, tận hưởng = take in - stunning /ˈstʌnɪŋ/ (a) extremely attractive or impressive, lộng lẫy, tuyệt đẹp - majestic /məˈdʒestɪk/ (a) impressive because of size or beauty, oai phong, hùng vĩ ~ awe-inspiring, splendid - winding /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/ (a) having a curving and twisting shape, quanh co, - take someone's breath away: to be extremely beautiful or surprising, cái gì đó đẹp vãi, đến mức khiến mình nghẹt thở - laid-back /ˌleɪd ˈbæk/ (a) calm and relaxed; seeming not to worry about anything, thư thái - pace of life: nhịp sống + slow/ hectic pace of life: nhịp sống chậm rãi/ hối hả, bận rộn - recharge /ˌriːˈtʃɑːrdʒ/ (v) to get back your strength and energy by resting for a time, nạp lại năng lượng bằng việc nghỉ ngơi + recharge your batteries (idiom): to rest and relax for a period of time so that you feel energetic again, nghỉ ngơi để nạp lại năng lượng - grind /ɡraɪnd/ (n) an activity that is boring or makes you tired and takes a lot of time, một việc nhàm chán và tốn nhiều thời gian, khiến bạn mệt mỏi + the daily grind of family life - vibe /vaɪb/ (n) a mood or an atmosphere produced by a particular person, thing or place, một bầu ko khí mà 1 người/ 1 vật/ 1 nơi nào đó mang lại cho bạn. + a very friendly vibe to it: 1 bầu ko khí rất thân thiện - helpful (a) (of a person) willing to help somebody, sẵn lòng giúp đỡ ai Ex. I called the police but they weren't very helpful. - give someone a hand: to give someone help, giúp đỡ ai - keep your/an eye on something/someone (idiom): to watch or take care of something or someone, để mắt tới ai, cái gì - allure /əˈlʊr/(uncountable noun): the quality of being attractive and exciting, sức quyến rũ, sức hấp dẫn của cái gì 76

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+ can’t resist the allure of the big city: ko thể cưỡng lại sự hấp dẫn của thành phố lớn be a sucker for something: to like something so much that you cannot refuse it or judge its real value, cực thích cái gì đến nỗi bạn ko thể từ chối nó metropolis /məˈtrɑːpəlɪs/ (n) a large, important city, những thành phố lớn, quan trọng glamourous /ˈɡlæmərəs/ (a) especially attractive and exciting, and different from ordinary things or people, hào nhoáng, làm say mê be within walking distance: not very far, close enough to reach by walking, gần, đi bộ cái là tới amenity /əˈmiːnəti/ (n) a feature or service that makes a place pleasant, comfortable or easy to live in, tiện nghi (từ này thường ở số nhiều) put into operation/effect: To commence doing or using something, đưa cái gì đó vào hoạt động ( từ này có phần hơi formal khi dùng trong speaking, bạn có thể dùng thay thế bằng từ “running” hoặc “operating” như ở trên mình ghi) a bustling downtown area: khu vực trung tâm thành phố sầm uất lively nightlife: cuộc sống về đêm sôi động

3. What is it like where you live? Answer 1 When it comes to my neighborhood, I would say it’s a perfect place to get away from the crowds. Here, you can be surrounded by an unspoiled and picturesque environment. There are also a lot of mom-and-pop shops and also open-air markets where you can buy many different organic and fresh produce in season. On top of that, people are extremely friendly and hospitable. Because it’s quite small, you can get to know your neighbors easily and have a sense of community.

Answer 2

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When it comes to my neighborhood, I would say it’s the perfect blend of contemporary and traditional architecture. There are a lot of complexes, high-rises, and skyscrapers. You can also see some old buildings which display our rich history and contain many spectacular remains. On top of that, it’s also got amazing amenities on my doorstep. For example, there are fitness centers, public parks, a variety of shopping outlets, and there’s also a hospital nearby, so I really love the convenience here. I mean all of these really make my life a lot more convenient. VOCABULARY - Neighborhood /ˈneɪbərhʊd/ (n) the area that you are in or the area near a particular place, khu mình sống hoặc khu lân cận - get away from somebody/ something (phr v):to escape from somebody or a place, thoát khỏi ai đó, hoặc một nơi nào đó + get away from the crowds: thoát khỏi đám đông - be surrounded by unspoilt and picturesque environment: được bao quanh bởi khung cảnh hoang sơ và đẹp như tranh vẽ. - unspoilt (UK)/ unspoiled (US) (a) (of a place) An unspoiled place is beautiful because it has not been changed or damaged by people, từ dùng để chỉ một nơi vẫn chưa bị thay đổi, ko bị ảnh hưởng bởi con người. - picturesque /ˌpɪktʃəˈresk/ (a) (of a place, building, scene, etc.) pretty, especially in a way that looks old-fashioned, đẹp như tranh ~ quaint /kweɪnt/ - mom-and-pop shop (n) a small retail business, typically family-operated, cửa hàng nhỏ, thường là do gia đình vận hành - produce /ˈprɑːduːs/ (n) things that have been made or grown, especially things connected with farming, nông sản - be in season OR come into season: (of fruit or vegetables) be/become easily available and ready to eat because it is the right time of year for them, đúng lúc, đúng mùa - have a sense of community: có cảm giác gần gũi như mình thuộc về một cộng đồng - high-rise (n) a building that is very tall and has a lot of floors, 1 tòa nhà cao tầng - skyscraper /ˈskaɪskreɪpər/ (n) a very tall building in a city, tòa nhà chọc chời 78

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- spectacular (a) /spekˈtækjələr/ very impressive, đẹp mắt, ngoạn mục ~ breathtaking - remains (n) [ danh từ này sẽ ở dạng số nhiều] the parts of ancient objects and buildings that have survived and are discovered in the present day, di vật, di tích - on my doorstep (idiom) very close to where someone is or lives, rất gần nơi bạn sống - shopping outlet: cửa hàng mua sắm 4. Do you like living in the city? Ở trên mình đã liệt kê rất nhiều lý do thích sống ở thành phố (nếu bạn thích sống ở thành phố, bạn có thể nhặt ý và nói). Với câu hỏi này, mình sẽ nêu ra những lý do mình không thích nhé! Well, to be honest, I don’t like living in metropolises even though they are very nice, modern, and civilized. This is because I don’t want to get stuck in endless traffic jams and be choked by pollution. On top of that, living costs in the city are becoming criminally expensive, so it would be pretty hard for me to sustain myself if I was living there. Personally, I really embrace the quietness and rustic charm of the outdoors. I mean the laid-back atmosphere helps shed my negative emotional thoughts and makes me feel more focused and content. VOCABULARY - civilized /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/ (a) well organized socially with a very developed culture and way of life, văn minh - get stuck in endless traffic jams: kẹt xe liên miên - be choked by pollution: nghẹt thở vì ô nhiễm - criminally expensive: đắt lòi mắt, đắt kinh khủng - embrace something /ɪmˈbreɪs/ (v) to accept an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc., especially when it is done with enthusiasm, đón nhận, yêu thích - rustic (a) typical of the country (= land not in cities), esp. because of being attractively simple, mộc mạc (đặc biệt ở vùng nông thôn) 79

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+ the rustic charm: nét quyến rũ mộc mạc the outdoors (n) the countryside, away from buildings and busy places, vùng nông thôn shed something (v) to get rid of something that is no longer wanted, loại bỏ content with something /ˈkɑːntent/ (a) happy and satisfied with what you have, bằng lòng, vừa ý focused (a) with your attention directed to what you want to do; with very clear aims, tập trung

5. Do you like living in the countryside? Để bạn có cái nhìn đa chiều hơn, vậy nên ở đây mình sẽ nêu ra lý do tại sao mình ko thích sống ở nông thôn: Well, honestly, I really embrace the quietness of the outdoors, but it can be so mediocre or boring if I have to live there. There’s not much nightlife, and sometimes it feels a bit cut off from the wider world. Moreover, the options of shopping and dining are sorely lacking, so if I want to hang out with my friends, I’ll have to go all the way downtown, which hands down drives me insane. As a city person, I would say it’s really hard for me to resist the bright lights and the convenience of metropolises.

VOCABULARY - mediocre /ˌmiːdiˈəʊkər/ (a) just acceptable but not good; not good enough, tầm thường - cut someone/something off (phr v) to cause a person or place to become separate, or cause someone to be or feel alone, tách biệt Ex. When his wife died, he cut himself off from other people. - sorely (adv) seriously; very much, vô cùng, hết sức - lacking (in something) (a) having none or not enough of something, thiếu + sorely lacking: thiếu trầm trọng 80

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- hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi - a city person: 1 người thành thị - the bright lights: the glamor and excitement of the city, sự nhộn nhịp, hào nhoáng ở chốn phồn hoa đô thị

6. Would you prefer to live somewhere else? (Why)? Answer 1 As I always yearn for/hunger for freshness and newness, I don't think I can commit to living in one place. I'd like to be a digital nomad/remote worker and live in different places for a few months at a time. VOCABULARY - yearn for (somebody/ something) /jɜːrn/ (v) to want something very much, especially when it is very difficult to get, khao khát, nóng lòng ~ long for somebody/ something: mong mỏi, ước ao - hunger for/after something/somebody /ˈhʌŋɡər/ (phr v) to have a strong desire or need for something/somebody, thèm khát, khao khát - commit to doing something (v) to promise to do something or to promise that something will happen, hứa làm gì, dám chắc điều gì sẽ xảy ra, cam kết làm gì - digital nomad /ˌdɪdʒɪtl ˈnəʊmæd/ (n) a person who earns a living working online in different locations that they choose for themselves, dân “xê dịch” làm việc online - ... at a time: if something happens for hours, days, months etc at a time, it continues for several hours, months etc. kéo dài vài giờ/ vài ngày/ vài tháng/…. Ex. Because of his work, he’s often away for weeks at a time. (Bởi vì công việc, anh ấy thường đi vắng nhiều tuần liên)

Answer 2 To be honest, there is no itch for me to really want to move to other places. I just feel like, right now I'm just very comfortable living in my neighborhood, and also, I’m kind of like a countryside girl born and raised. 81

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On top of that, my whole family's here, and I just want to spend a longer period of time with my parents especially while they're relatively young and still healthy. VOCABULARY - itch (to do something) /ɪtʃ/ (n) a strong desire to do something, mong muốn mạnh mẽ làm gì, sự nóng lòng muốn làm gì - neighborhood /ˈneɪbərhʊd/ (n) the area that you are in or the area near a particular place, khu mình sống hoặc khu lân cận Nếu bạn đang sống ở thành phố, nhưng lại muốn về nông thôn sống thì ở những câu hỏi trước, mình đã nêu ra rất nhiều ưu điểm của việc sống ở nông thôn rồi. Hoặc ngược lại, nếu bạn sống ở nông thôn mà thấy chán quá, thích sống ở thành phố thì mình cũng đã để rất nhiều ý ở trên. Bạn hãy đọc và chắt lọc ý cho riêng mình nhé!

7. Does your hometown have a lot of tourists? Answer 1 Definitely yes. My hometown is renowned for a lot of things, especially the breathtaking scenery. So, on weekends, it draws a lot of tourists who come here to get in touch with nature and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. People are really into summiting the mountains, which are hands down a big pull. Here, they can take in the panoramic views of the region that leave an imprint on their memory so that they keep coming back.

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Answer 2 Definitely yes. Hanoi is renowned for a lot of things including its rich culture, cuisine, and famous landmarks. The hidden charms of Hanoi make it so appealing in the eyes of not only tourists but also locals. Tourists tend to flock here in autumn time as it has lots of opportunities for them to come in and relax. There are many places to visit here, just roaming around with your motorbike on the city streets, you will capture the essence of Hanoian life. VOCABULARY - be renowed for something (a) /rɪˈnaʊnd/ famous and respected nổi tiếng vì điều gì ~ celebrated, noted - breathtaking (a) /ˈbreθteɪkɪŋ/ very exciting or impressive (usually in a pleasant way), làm nức lòng, làm nghẹt thở, quá ấn tượng - hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi - pull factor (n) something that attracts people to a place or an activity, nhân tố lôi kéo, thu hút người ta tới 1 nơi/ 1 hoạt động nào đó “Pull factor” ~ “Pull” 🡪 vậy nên bạn có thể dùng cái nào cũng được - draw somebody (v) to attract or interest somebody, thu hút ai - be dying for/to do something (idiom) to be extremely eager to have or do something, cực kỳ háo hức để làm gì - summit /ˈsʌmɪt/ (n) the highest point of something, especially the top of a mountain, đỉnh của cái gì, đặc biệt là đỉnh núi Ex: (nghĩa bóng) the summit of his career: đỉnh cao sự nghiệp của anh ấy - take in = soak up: tận tưởng, enjoy - panoramic /ˌpænəˈræmɪk/ (a) [ thường đặt trước danh từ ] with a view of a wide area of land, toàn cảnh - imprint (of something) (on somebody/something) /ɪmˈprɪnt/ (n) the lasting effect that a person or an experience has on a place or a situation, dấu ấn về + leave an imprint on their memory: để lại dấu ấn trong tâm trí của họ - cuisine /kwɪˈziːn/ (n) cách nấu nướng, ẩm thực, từ này dùng để chỉ nét tinh hoa, sự tinh tế trong nền ẩm thực của một quốc gia hay vùng miền nào đó - hidden charm: nét quyến rũ tiềm ẩn - in the eyes of: in the opinion of, trong mắt ai 83

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- roam /rəʊm/ (v) to walk or travel around an area without any definite aim or direction, đi lang thang - capture something /ˈkæptʃər/ (v) to succeed in accurately expressing a feeling, an atmosphere, etc. in a picture, piece of writing, film, etc., nắm được - essence /ˈesns/ (uncountable noun) the most important quality or feature of something, that makes it what it is, bản chất, thực chất + capture the essence of Hanoian life: hiểu được nét đặc trưng của cuộc sống của người Hà Nội - flock (v) to go or gather together somewhere in large numbers, đổ về Ex. Thousands of people flocked to the beach this weekend. (Hàng ngàn người đổ xô đến bãi biển vào cuối tuần này.) - shed something /ʃed/ (v) if an animal sheds its skin, or a plant sheds leaves, it loses them naturally, thay da (dùng cho động vật)/ rụng lá (dùng cho cây) - magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfɪsnt/ (a) extremely attractive and impressive; deserving praise, tráng lệ, lộng lẫy ~ splendid /ˈsplendɪd/ 8. Has your hometown changed much since you were a child? Answer 1 Yeah, it's a really more vibrant place than it used to be. There's been a lot of development with new shops, and... kind of.... amenities such as restaurants, cinemas. It really comes in handy since people don’t need to go all the way downtown to buy stuff. In addition, a host of factories have sprung up recently, which is a driving force in bolstering the local economy. Having said that, my hometown has still got a very peaceful vibe as people are still trying to preserve the cultural/traditional things. All in all, I would say it has changed a lot, and probably for the better.

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Answer 2 Yeah, it’s changed quite a lot actually. Now, the city center is dominated by complexes, high-rises, and skyscrapers. There are also more recreational facilities and amenities to make people’s lives more convenient. Having said that, Hanoi still clings strongly to traditional culture. You can also see some old buildings which display our rich history and contain many spectacular remains. So, I would say it’s the perfect blend of contemporary and traditional architecture. Besides, many people from different locations have moved into the city to seek better opportunities. Therefore, lots of run-down neighborhoods and shanty towns have sprung up recently since property prices have gone through the roof over the past few years. VOCABULARY - vibrant /ˈvaɪbrənt/ (a) full of life and energy, sôi động - come in handy (idiom) to be useful, có ích, hữu dụng - a host of something: a very large number or collection of people or things, rất nhiều - spring up (phr v) to appear or develop quickly and/or suddenly, xuất hiện - a driving force behind/for/in something: someone or something that has the power to make things happen, động lực thúc đẩy - bolster something /ˈbəʊlstər/ (v) to improve something or make it stronger + bolster the local economy: thúc đẩy nền kinh tế địa phương - blend /blend/ (n) a pleasant or useful combination of different things, sự hòa trộn - cling to something /klɪŋ/ (phr v) to be unwilling to lose something or stop doing something, giữ, bám chặt - run-down /ˌrʌn ˈdaʊn/ (a) (of a building or place) in very bad condition; that has not been taken care of, ọp ẹp, tồi tàn - neighborhood /ˈneɪbərhʊd/ (n) a district or an area of a town; the people who live there, khu vực HOẶC người sống trong khu vực đó run-down neighborhood: những khu xuống cấp 85

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- shanty town /ˈʃænti taʊn/ (n) an area in or near a town where poor people live in, thị trấn nơi mà toàn người nghèo sống, khu ổ chuột - property prices: giá nhà đất - go through the roof (idiom) (of prices or figures) reach extreme or unexpected heights, tăng chóng mặt.

9. Describe your hometown WHERE IT IS Now, I’m gonna talk about my hometown which is located in the suburbs of Hanoi. Yeah, it's not far from downtown, just a short drive from my house. So, the daily commute to the city center is just a breeze. WHAT YOU CAN SEE AND DO THERE Specifically, my hometown is renowned for a lot of things including its rich culture and cuisine. It’s also endowed with stunning splendid scenery with majestic mountains, winding alleys, endless paddy fields, and the list goes on. Moreover, the laid-back atmosphere and slow pace of life really make this a great place to recharge. One thing that I love doing there is to summit the mountains where I can soak in the panoramic views of the region. Personally, I think it’s amazing when I can be outside, in my hometown, and be free from the daily grind of work and routine. HOW IT HAS CHANGED SINCE YOU WERE A CHILD As time goes by, my hometown has changed a lot and probably for the better. There's been a lot of development with new shops, and... kind of.... amenities such as restaurants, cinemas. It really comes in handy since people don’t need to go all the way downtown to buy stuff. In addition, a host of factories have cropped up recently, which is a driving force in bolstering the local economy. WHY YOU LOVE IT

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Personally, I really embrace the quietness and rustic charm of my hometown. I’ve been to lots of places but my hometown still has a special place in my heart. All in all, I’m just head over heels with it. VOCABULARY - Suburb /ˈsʌbɜːrb/ (n) an area where people live that is outside the centre of a city, khu vực ngoài trung tâm thành phố + In the suburbs of (something): ở vùng ngoại ô - outskirts /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/ (n) the parts of a town or city that are furthest from the centre, những khu vực xa trung tâm nhất ở 1 thị trấn/ 1 thành phố + on the outskirts (of something): ở vùng ngoại ô - downtown /ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/ (uncountable noun) the centre of a city, especially its main business area, trung tâm thành phố, đặc biệt là khu vực giao thương chính. (Ví dụ Hà Nội thì có quận Hoàn Kiếm là trung tâm nhất) - drive (countable noun): a journey in a car or other vehicle, chuyến đi xe + a short drive: 1 chuyến đi ngắn + It's a three-hour drive to London. ( Đó là một chuyến đi 3 tiếng tới London) - commute /kəˈmjuːt/ (n) a regular journey between work and home, hành trình đi giữa 2 nơi: chỗ làm và nhà Ex. a two-hour commute into downtown Washington - breeze /briːz/ (n) a thing that is easy to do, việc dễ làm, việc ngon ơ - be renowned for something /rɪˈnaʊnd/ (a) famous for something, nổi tiếng về cái gì - cuisine /kwɪˈziːn/ (n) cách nấu nướng, ẩm thực, từ này dùng để chỉ nét tinh hoa, sự tinh tế trong nền ẩm thực của một quốc gia hay vùng miền nào đó - be endowed with something /ɪnˈdaʊd/ (phr v) to naturally have a particular feature, quality, etc., được phú cho cái gì = be blessed with something - stunning splendid scenery: phong cảnh lộng lẫy, tuyệt đẹp - laid-back /ˌleɪd ˈbæk/ (a) calm and relaxed; seeming not to worry about anything, thư thái - pace of life: nhịp sống + slow/ hectic pace of life: nhịp sống chậm rãi/ hối hả, bận rộn - recharge /ˌriːˈtʃɑːrdʒ/ (v) to get back your strength and energy by resting for a time, nạp lại năng lượng bằng việc nghỉ ngơi - summit /ˈsəmət/ (v) reach the summit of (a mountain or hill). leo lên đỉnh núi 87

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- take in = soak up: tận tưởng, enjoy - panoramic /ˌpænəˈræmɪk/ (a) [ thường đặt trước danh từ ] with a view of a wide area of land, toàn cảnh - grind /ɡraɪnd/ (n) an activity that is boring or makes you tired and takes a lot of time, một việc nhàm chán và tốn nhiều thời gian, khiến bạn mệt mỏi + the daily grind of family life - go by (phr v): (of time) to pass, trôi (thời gian) - come in handy (idiom) to be useful, có ích, hữu dụng - crop up (phr v) to appear or happen, especially when it is not expected, xuất hiện = come up = spring up Ex. Many new buildings have come up/ sprung up/ cropped up - a driving force behind/for/in something: someone or something that has the power to make things happen, động lực thúc đẩy - bolster something /ˈbəʊlstər/ (v) to improve something or make it stronger + bolster the local economy: thúc đẩy nền kinh tế địa phương - embrace something /ɪmˈbreɪs/ (v) to accept an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc., especially when it is done with enthusiasm, đón nhận, yêu thích - rustic (a) typical of the country (= land not in cities), esp. because of being attractively simple, mộc mạc (đặc biệt ở vùng nông thôn) + the rustic charm: nét quyến rũ mộc mạc - head over heels (in love) (idiom): thực sự yêu ai/ cái gì, toàn tâm toàn ý, yêu tha thiết [đây là một strong expression, vậy nên khi dùng cụm từ, bạn hãy thể hiện 1 cảm xúc thực sự mãnh liệt nhé ] Ex. Laura fell head over heels in love with Chris. Ex. I’m head over heels in love with that truck. Để bạn có thể hiểu rõ cách dùng từ này hơn, bạn click vào link này nhé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0UGpG5Qgoo 10. Từ vựng và cấu trúc bạn có thể dùng để với topic “Describe a PLACE ……” ( Nó có thể là a public building, a place you have visited,….) WHERE IT IS: It can be found : Nó có thể được tìm thấy ở ……đâu….. It’s a little-known place near my house: Nó là một nơi ít người biết đến và gần nhà của tôi It’s hidden away in the backstreets near my home: 88

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It’s tucked away in the backstreets/ city centre/ … It’s in a secluded neighbourhood: It’s slap bang in the middle of the city: Nó nằm ngay giữa trung tâm thành phố WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE A weather-beaten, beachfront house A fully furnished house A high-rise concrete building A palatial building/ house It has spectacular architecture I’m really impressed with its modern architecture as it incorporates lots of glass which makes it stand in stark contrast to the historic buildings nearby FEEL I love/adore it I reckon it’s awesome, fantastic, outstanding, out of this world VOCABULARY - Backstreet /ˈbækstriːt/ (n) a small quiet street, usually in a poor part of a town or city, away from main roads, 1 con phố vắng nhỏ, thường ở những vùng nghèo của thị trấn hoặc thành phố, cách xa đường chính + in the backstreets of something - Be tucked away (phr v) to be located in a quiet place, where not many people go, ẩn mình, nằm ở một vị trí yên tĩnh, nơi ko có nhiều người qua lại - Secluded /sɪˈkluːdɪd/ (a) (especially of a place) quiet and private, tách biệt, hẻo lánh - Slap-bang (adv) exactly in a particular position, chính xác vị trí ở đâu - weather-beaten (a) Something such as skin or a building material that is weatherbeaten has been changed or damaged by the weather, bị thiên nhiên quật - beachfront /ˈbiːtʃfrʌnt/ (n) the part of a town facing the beach, hướng ra biển, nhìn ra biển, (ví dụ như là biệt thự có view hướng ra biển) - palatial /pəˈleɪʃl/ (a) (of a room or building) very large and impressive, like a palace, nguy nga, như cung điện ~ splendid - be impressed with something: (a) bị ấn tượng bởi cái gì 89

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- incorporate something /ɪnˈkɔːrpəreɪt/ (v) to include something so that it forms a part of something, kết hợp Ex. The new car design incorporates all the latest safety features. (Thiết kế xe mới kết hợp tất cả các tính năng an toàn mới nhất) - stand in stark contrast to something: to be very different from something else, tương phản rất nhiều với cái gì + stark /stɑːrk/ (a) very different from something in a way that is easy to see, khác biệt rất dễ nhận ra ~ clear Ex. The good weather was in stark contrast to the storms of previous weeks. - out of this world (idiom) used to emphasize how good, beautiful, etc. something is, tuyệt vời, đầy ấn tượng, không còn lời gì diễn tả

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TRAVELLING & HOLIDAYS 1. Do you like travelling? Absolutely yes. Actually, I have itchy feet, and I’m always craving new things and wanting to experience as much as I can. I feel like travelling is a great outlet for me to decompress, and to get away from the crowds, from all the rat race and the stress of workaday worries. I travelled a lot during my younger years. But, these days, I’m always up to my ears in work, so it’s pretty hard for me to find time to do the thing that I’m head over heels for. VOCABULARY - Get/have itchy feet (idiom) to want to travel to different places, to love travelling, rất thích du lịch - crave for something /kreɪv/ (v) to have a very strong desire for something, khao khát, thèm muốn = long for (v) - outlet (for something) /ˈaʊtlet/ (n) a way of expressing or making good use of strong feelings, ideas or energy, lối thoát - decompress /ˌdiːkəmˈpres/ (v) to calm down and relax, thư giãn (từ này hay lắm nhé, dùng trong văn phong ko trang trọng như văn nói) = unwind - get away from somebody/ something (phr v): to escape from somebody or a place, thoát khỏi ai đó, hoặc một nơi nào đó + get away from the crowds: thoát khỏi đám đông - the rat race: a way of life in modern society, in which people compete with each other for power and money, cuộc bon chen (trong xã hội, trong việc cạnh tranh về việc làm, tiền bạc...) Get out of/ escape + the rat race: thoát khỏi cuộc chạy đua chuột >< get caught up in the rat race: mắc vào cuộc chạy đua chuột - workaday /ˈwɜːrkədeɪ/ (a) ordinary; not very interesting, thường ngày (từ này thường đứng trước danh từ bạn nhé!) 92

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~ everyday + workaday worries: những lo lắng thường ngày - be up to your ears in something (idiom): to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - find (the) time (idiom): have enough time, có đủ thời gian làm gì - head over heels (in love) (idiom): thực sự yêu ai/ cái gì, toàn tâm toàn ý, yêu tha thiết [đây là một strong expression, vậy nên khi dùng cụm từ, bạn hãy thể hiện 1 cảm xúc thực sự mãnh liệt nhé ] Ex. Laura fell head over heels in love with Chris. Ex. I’m head over heels in love with that truck. Để bạn có thể hiểu rõ cách dùng từ này hơn, bạn click vào link này nhé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0UGpG5Qgoo

2. Do you prefer traveling alone or in a group? Answer 1 Personally speaking, I’m always itching to go on solo adventures rather than/ as opposed to travelling with others. I think one perk about being alone is that you don’t have to match anyone's energy. And actually, it’s really nice to be able to make executive decisions for the whole itinerary since there's no one to bounce ideas off you/ [OR] you don’t have to consider other people’s interests. Also, it's important/ essential to learn how to be by yourself and enjoy your own company while you’re traveling. Although I enjoy solo travel, at times I wish I could share the experience with someone else, especially something so transcendent. But maybe it's fine just to soak it in all for myself.

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Answer 2 Well, you know they say “the more the merrier”, so I guess I prefer travelling in the company of my friends or family. Personally, I think it’s more economical/ cost-effective as you can split the costs of accommodation, transport or meals. One more perk is that you’ll get to maintain bonds with your loved ones. Nowadays, hectic work schedules leave us with very little quality time for our family and friends. So I think travel is the best opportunity to savor every moment because life is too short, and our job is just to make every day count, right? VOCABULARY - itch to do something (v) to want to do something very much and as soon as possible, muốn làm cái gì đó sớm nhất có thể - go on solo adventures: đi những chuyến khám phá một mình - as opposed to (idiom) rather than; instead of, thay vì - perk (n) an advantage, lợi ích - match anyone's energy: copy someone’s attitudes Ví dụ: Hội bạn của bạn rủ nhau café, đến nơi thì đứa nào đứa nấy chẳng nói gì mà bỏ điện thoại ra lướt facebook. Bạn thấy bạn mình như thế, xong cũng lôi điện thoại ra. Vì vậy hành động này chính là “match your friends’ energy”. (hi vọng ví dụ này sẽ giúp bạn hiểu rõ hơn về từ này ^ ^) - an executive decision /ɪɡˈzekjətɪv/: a decision made by a person or group that has executive power, quyết định mang tính chủ chốt, quyết định Ví dụ: Nhóm bạn của bạn muốn đi ăn, nhưng chưa chốt được quán. Bạn đứng nên và bảo thống nhất đi KFC → như vậy, quyết định này chính là “an executive decision”. Bạn tham khảo link này để hiểu rõ hơn về từ này nhé: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=executive%20decision - itinerary /aɪˈtɪnəreri/ (n) a plan of a journey, including the route and the places that you visit, hành trình (bao gồm đường đi, nơi mà bạn sẽ đến) + make executive decisions for the whole itinerary: đưa ra những quyết định quan trọng cho cả hành trình 94

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- bounce ideas (off somebody): to tell somebody your ideas in order to find out what they think about them, đưa ra ý kiến của mình (với ai), chia sẻ, thảo luận một ý tưởng, kế hoạch cùng ai với mong muốn thu nhận ý kiến phản hồi Ex: When you work in a team you can bounce your ideas off each other. Ex. Can I bounce a couple of ideas off you? - Transcendent /trænˈsendənt/ (a) going beyond the usual limits; extremely great, siêu việt, cực đỉnh - soak in (phr v) to spend time experiencing and enjoying the mood or feeling in a place, đắm mình, dành thời gian để trải nghiệm, cảm nhận Ex. We soaked in the charming 17th century ambiance of the place. - be by yourself: alone; without anyone else, một mình - company (uncountable noun) the fact of being with somebody else and not alone, sự ở cùng, sự đi cùng + somebody's company: ở cùng ai đó Ex. I enjoy Jo's company (= I enjoy being with her). + enjoy your own company: tận hưởng không gian riêng của bản thân + in the company of somebody: cùng với ai đó - the more the merrier: the more people or things there are, the better the situation will be or the more fun people will have, càng đông càng vui - economical /ˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪkl/ (a) providing good service or value in relation to the amount of time or money spent, tiết kiệm - cost-effective /ˌkɔːst ɪˈfektɪv/ (a) giving the best possible profit or benefits in comparison with the money that is spent, tiết kiệm chi phí - split the costs: chia sẻ chi phí - bond (countable noun) something that forms a connection between people or groups, such as a feeling of friendship or shared ideas and experiences, mối quan hệ + maintain bonds with somebody: duy trì mối quan hệ với ai - savor /ˈseɪvər/ (v) to enjoy a feeling or an experience completely, tận hưởng ~ relish /ˈrelɪʃ/ - make every day count: sống trọn vẹn mỗi ngày để ko uổng phí ngày hôm đó.

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3. Where would you recommend a foreigner to visit in your country? From my point of view, I would say Dalat is a must-visit place in Vietnam for foreign travellers out there. Being situated in a Highland region in the south of Vietnam, Dalat has acquired a reputation for/boasts + its stunning splendid scenery and its local delicacies. On top of that, the city's temperate climate(1) makes it stand in stark contrast to the tropical climates(2) found elsewhere in Vietnam. All in all, I think this is the most tranquil destination that’s worth crossing off your bucket list. VOCABULARY - must-see/must-read/must-have, etc.: used to tell people that something is so good or interesting that they should see, read, get it, etc., cái gì rất đáng xem/ đáng đọc/ đáng để sở hữu/… + must-visit place: 1 nơi nhất định phải ghé thăm - acquire a reputation for something: nổi tiếng về điều gì - boast something /bəʊst/ (v): to have something that is impressive, tự hào vì có cái gì - stunning splendid scenery / ˈstʌnɪŋ ˈsplendɪd ˈsiːnəri /: phong cảnh lộng lẫy, tuyệt đẹp - delicacy /ˈdelɪkəsi/ (countable noun) a type of food considered to be very special in a particular place, 1 món đặc sản địa phương ~ specialty /ˌspeʃiˈæləti/ + try local delicacies/ specialties: thử các đặc sản địa phương - temperate /ˈtempərət/ (a) (of a climate or region) having a mild temperature without extremes of heat or cold, [ từ này thường đứng trước danh từ ], ôn hòa, ko nóng quá cũng ko lạnh quá + temperate climate: khí hậu ôn hòa - stand in stark contrast to something : to be very different from something else, tương phản rất nhiều với cái gì - climate (2) /ˈklaɪmət/ (countable noun) an area with particular weather conditions, miền khí hậu 96

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climate (1) (countable, uncountable noun): the regular pattern of weather conditions of a particular place, khí hậu, thời tiết - tranquil /ˈtræŋkwɪl/ (a) quiet and peaceful, yên bình - bucket list /ˈbʌkɪt lɪst/ (n): a list of the things that a person would like to do or achieve before they die, 1 danh sách tổng hợp những gì mà 1 người muốn thực hiện trước khi họ chết + cross off your bucket list: phải trải nghiệm 1 lần trước khi chết 4. What do you do while you are travelling? Well, normally, when I go to a new spot, I tend to get so overstimulated that I’m always itching to explore a bunch of different things in that place and cover as much ground as possible. I don’t know why but I just always long for freshness and newness. It’s in my blood and in my bones. Also, when you visit a place, it's a crime not to sample local delicacies. I love trying different types of food and immersing myself in different cultures. On top of that, I even try to document each and every corner that I find beautiful and reflect on all the emotions I feel by writing them down.

VOCABULARY - spot (n) a particular area or place, 1 điểm, 1 nơi - overstimulated /ˌoʊ.vɚˈstɪm.jə.leɪ.t̬ɪd/ (a): too excited or interested in something, bị kích thích quá mức, quá hào hứng - itch to do something (v) to want to do something very much and as soon as possible, muốn làm cái gì đó sớm nhất có thể Ex. He was itching to hear the results. - cover a lot of ground: to go far or travel a long distance. The phrase often refers to a portion of a longer journey, đi được nhiều nơi (khi bạn đến 1 nơi nào đó chơi, bạn sẽ thường muốn đi khám phá thật nhiều các điểm đẹp ở nơi đó) - long for somebody/ something: mong mỏi, ước ao - be in the/someone's blood (idiom): If an ability or skill is in someone's blood, they have it naturally, usually because it already exists in their family. “Ở trong máu của

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ai”. (Ý nói đến một kỹ năng/ khả năng mà ở trong máu của ai, nghĩa là người đó sở hữu một cách tự nhiên vì nó là truyền thống của gia đình người đó rồi) Ex. His father and grandmother were painters too, so it's obviously in the blood. in my bones /bəʊnz/ (idiom): to feel certain about something, although you cannot explain or prove it. [Usually used with verbs like "feel," "believe," "know," etc.] “Cảm thấy chắc chắn về cái gì mặc dù bạn không thể lý giải” Ex. I know I'm going to fail this exam—I can feel it in my bones. a crime (noun): an act that you think is morally wrong or is a big mistake, một sai lầm cực lớn + It's a crime to waste so much money. sample something /ˈsæmpl/ (v) to try a small amount of a particular food to see what it is like; to experience something for a short time to see what it is like, ăn thử; trải nghiệm cái gì thử xem nó như thế nào delicacy /ˈdelɪkəsi/ (countable noun) a type of food considered to be very special in a particular place, 1 món đặc sản địa phương ~ specialty /ˌspeʃiˈæləti/ + try local delicacies/ specialties: thử các đặc sản địa phương immerse yourself in something /ɪˈmɜːrs/ (v): to become or make somebody completely involved in something, đắm mình vào cái gì, mải mê document something /ˈdɑːkjument/ (v) to record something in the form of a written document, photograph, film, etc., quay lại, chụp ảnh lại, lưu trữ tài liệu viết, … reflect on something: to think carefully and deeply about something, suy nghĩ kỹ lưỡng, sâu sắc về cái gì

5. Which do you prefer, a city break or a beach holiday? Answer 1 Well, I would say taking a holiday at a beach is my all-time favourite since I feel like there’s something incredibly therapeutic about being in touch with nature and away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

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Because of my hectic work schedule, I’m stressed out all the time. So after months of working non-stop, I think it’s amazing to soak up the sun and sea in a calm location, listen to the sounds of the crashing waves, and just lose myself in nature.

Answer 2 Well, normally, people often shy away from city breaks in favour of beach holidays. However, I'm one of those rare people that loves traveling to cities. I don’t know why but I feel really drawn to the bright lights of metropolises. To me, big cities are the perfect destinations to explore a country’s culture or sample a wide range of local delicacies. Yeah, there are several cities that I've already been to multiple times like Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh. Those spots definitely have a special place in my heart. VOCABULARY - take a holiday = go on holiday = be on holiday: đi nghỉ lễ ~ take a vacation = go on vacation = be on vacation Note: holiday (BE) = vacation (AE) - all-time favourite /ˈfeɪvərɪt/ : favorite of all choices, during all times, cái gì/ người mà ai lúc nào cũng thích - therapeutic /ˌθerəˈpjuːtɪk/ (a) helping you to relax, giúp ai thư giãn Ex: I find listening to music very therapeutic. - Be in touch with something: explore it more, and feel close to it, khám phá cái gì nhiều hơn, được gần cái gì - the hustle and bustle /ˈhʌsl/ /ˈbʌsl/ (n) lối sống vội vã, hối hả tấp nập, ồn ào (đặc biệt là ở thành phố) + be away from the hustle and bustle of city life: tránh xa sự ồn ào tấp lập của cuộc sống thành thị - be stressed (out ) (a): căng thẳng, lo âu - hectic work schedule: lịch trình làm việc bận rộn - soak up (phr v) to experience something good or pleasant with your senses, your body or your mind = enjoy, tận hưởng = take in 99

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- the sounds of the crashing waves: những tiếng sóng vỗ - lose yourself in something (phr v) to be paying so much attention to something that you do not notice anything else, đắm chìm vào cái gì - shy away (phr v) to avoid doing something because you are nervous or frightened, tránh né - city break (n) a short holiday spent in a city, kỳ nghỉ ở thành phố - in favour (of somebody/ something): + Nghĩa 1: if you are in favour of somebody/something, you support and agree with them/it, ủng hộ, tán thành với ai/ cái gì Ex: I am in favour of a higher tax on cigarettes. (Tôi ủng hộ việc đánh thuế cao hơn lên thuốc lá) + Nghĩa 2: in exchange for another thing (because the other thing is better or you want it more), để đổi lấy một thứ khác (vì thứ kia tốt hơn hoặc bạn muốn nó hơn) Ex: He abandoned teaching in favour of a career as a musician. ( Anh ấy bỏ công việc giảng dạy để theo đuôi sự nghiệp ca sỹ) - be drawn to something: bị thu hút/ hấp dẫn bởi cái gì - the bright lights: the glamor and excitement of the city, sự nhộn nhịp, hào nhoáng ở chốn phồn hoa đô thị - sample something (v) to try a small amount of a particular food to see what it is like; to experience something for a short time to see what it is like, ăn thử; trải nghiệm cái gì thử xem nó như thế nào - delicacy /ˈdelɪkəsi/ (countable noun) a type of food considered to be very special in a particular place, 1 món đặc sản địa phương ~ specialty /ˌspeʃiˈæləti/ + try local delicacies/ specialties: thử các đặc sản địa phương - metropolis /məˈtrɑːpəlɪs/ (n) a large, important city (often the capital city of a country or region), những thành phố lớn, quan trọng - (something) holds a special place in (one's) heart: something is very emotionally important to you, cái gì cực kỳ quan trọng với ai, chiếm vị trí đặc biệt trong tim ai. Note: Bạn cũng có thể dùng từ “have” thay thế cho “hold”, người bản xứ thường dùng từ “have” hơn.

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HOLIDAYS 6. Do you like holidays? Why / why not? Definitely yes, since I’m always snowed under with a lot of deadlines and assignments, it’s pretty hard for me to carve out time to spend with my family and friends. Therefore, to me, a holiday is a time to get away from the daily grind of work and relish every moment with my loved ones. On top of that, having several days off also gives me opportunities to be in touch with nature, pamper myself, or meditate. And I would say this really does wonders for my mental health as it helps reframe the negative thought patterns in my mind and replace them with positive ones. VOCABULARY -

be snowed under (with something): (idiom) have a lot of work or other things to deal with, có rất nhiều việc để xử lý, ngập trong cái gì. - carve out time /kɑːrv/ : make free time for important activities; set aside time to do something, cố gắng dành thời gian cho những điều mình thấy là thực sự quan trọng - get away from somebody/ something (phr v): to escape from somebody or a place, thoát khỏi ai đó, hoặc một nơi nào đó - grind /ɡraɪnd/ an activity that is boring or makes you tired and takes a lot of time, một việc nhàm chán và tốn nhiều thời gian, khiến bạn mệt mỏi + to get away from the daily grind of work: thoát khỏi guồng quay công việc hàng ngày - relish something /ˈrelɪʃ/ (v) to get great pleasure from something; to want very much to do or have something, tận hưởng cái gì ~ enjoy - Be in touch with something: explore it more, and feel close to it, khám phá cái gì nhiều hơn, được gần cái gì - pamper somebody /ˈpæmpər/ (v) to take care of somebody very well and make them feel as comfortable as possible, nuông chiều ai, - meditate /ˈmedɪteɪt/ (v) to focus your mind, usually in silence, especially for religious reasons or in order to make your mind calm, thiền định - do wonders for somebody/ something (idiom) to have a very good effect on somebody/something, mang lại điều kỳ diệu cho ai/ cái gì 101

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reframe /ˌriːˈfreɪm/ (v) to change the way something is expressed or considered, điều chỉnh lại 7. What do you usually do on your holiday?

Answer 1 Well, I normally do something productive during holidays like reading some self-help books or learning new skills. To me, time is a very valuable currency. You know, just in a blink of an eye, everything is gone. I don’t want to look back full of regrets because I spent more downtime relaxing than on my career or developing myself. Besides, on really special occasions, I want to spice things up for us, me and my family, by treating them to a meal at a gourmet restaurant. Even though it costs me an arm and a leg, to be honest, I think it’s so nice to have a chance to rekindle our relationship once in a while.

Answer 2 Since I’m always bitten by the travel bug, I’m always dying to get out there and experience what the world has to offer. I think a holiday is the perfect time for me to indulge my passion for traveling. Yeah, I’ve got to see loads of incredible places in person that literally took my breath away. Besides, I want to spend some me time doing what I love, like binge-watching lots of TV shows, creating new ties, soaking up art, or raising hell with my friends. Also, on some large holidays like Tet, I even make an effort to get into the holiday spirit, just kind of like buying some tasteful Tet decorations, and then decorating my house to make it look more festive. VOCABULARY - self-help books: sách tự lực, những sách giúp mình hoàn thiện bản thân, rèn luyện những kỹ năng mới - time is a very valuable currency: thời gian là 1 loại tiền bạc vô cùng quý giá 102

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- in a blink of an eye (idiom): extremely quickly, trong nháy mắt - downtime /ˈdaʊntaɪm/ (n) the time when somebody stops working and is able to relax, thời gian chết ( từ này chuyên dùng trong tiếng Anh Mỹ) - spice something (up) (with something) to add interest or excitement to something, thêm “gia vị” để làm cho cái gì thêm phần thú vị - treat somebody/yourself (to something) (v) to pay for something that someone/you will enjoy and that you do not usually have or do + She treated him to lunch. ( cô ấy bao anh ta ăn trưa) + I'm going to treat myself to a new pair of shoes.(tôi tự thưởng cho mình 1 đôi giày mới) - gourmet /ˈɡʊrmeɪ/ (a) (of food, drink, etc.) of high quality and often expensive; connected with food or drink of this type, [ thường đứng trước danh từ ], cao cấp ~ high-end (a) - cost an arm and a leg (idiom) to be extremely expensive, cực kỳ đắt Bạn có thể tham khảo thêm các từ vựng về “ĐẮT ĐỎ” ở link này nhé: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/thesaurus/articles/to-be-expensive - rekindle something /ˌriːˈkɪndl/(v) to make a feeling or relationship become active again, nhen nhóm lại (tình cảm hoặc mối quan hệ) - (every) once in a while ~ occasionally, from time to time: thi thoảng - be bitten by the …. bug: to become very enthusiastic about something, and start doing it a lot, rất mê thứ gì, rất thích được làm gì Từ “bug” có nghĩa là an enthusiastic interest in something such as a sport or a hobby, một sự quan tâm nhiệt tình tới cái gì, ví dụ như là thể thao hay 1 sở thích nào đó. Ex. She's been bitten by the travel bug Ex. Joe was bitten by the acting bug as a five-year-old. - be dying for/to do something (idiom) to be extremely eager to have or do something, cực kỳ háo hức để làm gì - indulge something /ɪnˈdʌldʒ/ (v) to satisfy a particular desire, interest, etc., thỏa mãn đam mê/ yêu thích - passion for something (n) a very strong feeling of liking something; a hobby, an activity, etc. that you like very much, đam mê - in person (idiom) if you do something in person, you go somewhere and do it yourself, instead of doing something by letter, asking someone else to do it etc, trực tiếp Ex. You have to sign for it in person. 103

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- in-person (a) [ thường đứng trước danh từ ] Ex: At the height of the pandemic all in-person classes were suspended. (Vào thời điểm đỉnh cao của đại dịch, tất cả các lớp học trực tiếp đều bị đình chỉ) - take my breath away: If something takes your breath away, you feel surprise and admiration because it is so beautiful or exciting, làm tôi nghẹt thở (vì quá đẹp, quá ấn tượng) - binge-watch /ˈbɪndʒ ˌwɒtʃ/ (v) to watch several episodes (= separate parts) of a television series or programme, one after another, cày phim Ex: We binge-watched an entire season of "Breaking Bad" on Sunday. - tie (n) a strong connection between people or organizations, mối quan hệ + to creat new ties: tạo dựng những mối quan hệ mới - soak up (phr v) to experience something good or pleasant with your senses, your body or your mind = enjoy, tận hưởng + soak up art: thưởng thức nghệ thuật - raise hell with someone: to party, get crazy maybe even do bad things, đi “quẩy” - make the/an effort (to do something): to do something even though you do not want to or you find it difficult, cố gắng để làm gì - get into the holiday spirit: become excited about or to have good feelings about a major holiday, hòa mình vào không khí ngày lễ - tasteful /ˈteɪstfl/ (a) (especially of clothes, furniture, decorations, etc.) attractive and of good quality and showing that the person who chose them can recognize good things, có tính thẩm mỹ (đặc biệt dùng cho quấn áo, nội thất, đồ trang trí,..) Ex: tasteful furniture/ornaments - decoration /ˌdekəˈreɪʃn/ [countable, usually plural] a thing that makes something look more attractive on special occasions, đồ trang trí - festive /ˈfestɪv/ (a) of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival, liên quan/phù hợp cho bữa tiệc/ lễ hội Ex. a festive occasion Ex. The house looks festive during the holidays.

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8. Do you like long or short holidays? I think both have their own perks. First off, having a few days off really provides me with a temporary respite. I just get to do whatever I want like vegging out, spending time with my family, or hanging out with my friends. However, in longer holidays, maybe from 2 to 4 weeks, you are totally free from workaday worries. As a travel enthusiast, I generally go to new spots and try to cover as much ground as possible. VOCABULARY - perk (n) an advantage, lợi ích - respite (from something) /ˈrespaɪt/ (BE) or /ˈrespɪt/(AE) (n) a short break or escape from something difficult or unpleasant, thời gian nghỉ ngơi (khỏi những điều khó khăn) + provide me with a temporary respite: mang lại cho tôi 1 khoảng thời gian nghỉ ngơi tạm thời - veg out /vedʒ/ (phr v) to relax by doing something that needs very little effort, for example watching television, thư giãn bằng cách làm một việc mà ít tốn sức, tận hưởng sự thoải mái - workaday /ˈwɜːrkədeɪ/ (a) ordinary; not very interesting, thường ngày (từ này thường đứng trước danh từ bạn nhé!) ~ everyday + workaday worries: những lo lắng thường ngày - enthusiast /ɪnˈθuːziæst/ (n) a person who is very interested in something and spends a lot of time doing it, người đam mê cái gì ( rất thích cái gì và dành rất nhiều thời gian làm nó) + a travel enthusiast /ɪnˈθuːziæst/: 1 người đam mê du lịch + enthusiast of something → Ex. an enthusiast of jazz - cover a lot of ground: to travel a long distance. The phrase often refers to a portion of a longer journey, đi được nhiều nơi (khi bạn đến 1 nơi nào đó chơi, bạn sẽ thường muốn đi khám phá thật nhiều các điểm đẹp ở nơi đó)

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9. Where did you go for your last holiday? Since work has gotten in the way, it’s been a long time since I have had a chance to travel. So, if my memory serves me right, I think the last spot I went to was Tam Dao Town, which is found in a Highland region in the north of Vietnam. I would say there was not much to do there. What I found the most disturbing was that it was very dusty since there were loads of construction sites on the way, so it was quite difficult for me to enjoy the fresh air. Yeah, to be honest, I couldn’t understand the appeal and why there were just endless streams of cars coming down the road. There was just nothing that left an imprint on my memory. VOCABULARY - in the way (idiom) in a position that prevents something from happening or someone from moving, ngăn cản điều gì xảy ra hoặc ai đó di chuyển Ex: Work often gets in the way of my social life. (Công việc thường cản trở cuộc sống xã hội của tôi) Ex: It’s a small street, and he parked right in the way. ( Đó là một con phố nhỏ, và anh ấy đỗ xe ngay trên đường.) - if my memory serves me right (idiom) if I remember correctly, nếu tôi nhớ không nhầm - disturbing /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/ (a) making you feel anxious and upset or shocked, làm náo động; quấy rầy, làm bối rối, làm lo âu; làm xáo trộn - dusty /ˈdʌsti/ (a) full of dust; covered with dust, bụi bặm, đầy bụi - construction site /kənˈstrʌkʃn saɪt/ (n) an area of land where something is being built, công trường xây dựng - endless streams of cars: những dòng xe bất tận - imprint (of something) (on somebody/something) /ɪmˈprɪnt/ (n) the lasting effect that a person or an experience has on a place or a situation, dấu ấn về + leave an imprint on their memory: để lại dấu ấn trong tâm trí của họ

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10. Describe a memorable trip WHERE IT WAS Today, I’m gonna talk about my memorable trip to Danang, which is a coastal city in central Vietnam It’s just a one-hour flight from Hanoi, so the trip wasn't too draining/ exhausting. As far as I know, Danang is renowned for its stunning white sand beaches, countless tourist attractions, friendly locals, and decadent seafood. Every year, there are thousands of tourists flocking to the area as it has lots of opportunities for them to relax. WHEN IT WAS I went to Danang when I was a sophomore at university. At that point, I was in the middle of finals and always up to my ears in revision. It was kind of like a nerveracking time for me, and it just got to the point where I was tired of everything. I wanted to do something about it. So instead, I just went with my gut, yeah, you know, I packed up my things and flew to Danang. It was exhilarating to get away from it all and have some time to breathe. WHAT YOU DID In Danang, I did a lot of things. But what has left an imprint on my memory up to now is definitely watching the sunset at My Khe beach, which is one of the most soughtafter sunset view spots in this central city. To be honest, I was blown away by the breathtaking scenery before my very eyes. This was the first time I’d got to see the sunset in its entirety. You know, the colors changed every minute, and it was so scenic that I couldn’t take my eyes off it. In addition, the soothing sounds of the waves crashing against the shore were truly therapeutic. I documented that experience but I think it’s something that simply can’t be shared through the lens of the camera.

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When you visit a place, it's a crime not to sample local delicacies. I had dinner at a seafood restaurant by the seaside. And I would say this was the meal of a lifetime. The food was incredibly fresh/sublime and very reasonably priced. Also, the service was impeccable, and getting to watch the chef at work was really eye-opening. WHY IT WAS MEMORABLE All in all, it was an unforgettable journey because I had an absolute blast there. What can I say? Yeah, This place is out of this world VOCABULARY - be renowned for something /rɪˈnaʊnd/ (a) famous for something, nổi tiếng về cái gì - decadent /ˈdekədənt/: when applied to food, this implies rich, luxurious, fatfilled, highly caloric and possibly downright dangerous dishes. [ mặc dù từ “decadent” có nghĩa là suy đồi, nhưng khi đi với đồ ăn, từ này mang nghĩa: sang chảnh, giàu calo] Bạn có thể đọc thêm về từ này qua link : https://www.ehow.com/facts_7446719_meaning-decadent-food_.html - flock (v) to go or gather together somewhere in large numbers, đổ xô về - in the middle of something (idiom) busy doing something, bận rộn làm gì - be up to your ears in something (idiom): to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - nerve-racking /ˈnɜːrv rækɪŋ/ (a) making you feel very nervous and worried, đầy căng thẳng - do something about something: to do something to solve a problem or stop a bad situation, làm gì đó để giải quyết vấn đề và chấm dứt tình trạng tồi tệ Ex. If we don’t do something about it, the problem is going to get worse. - go with one’s gut: to trust or follow an intuition or instinct, as opposed to an opinion based on a logical analysis, làm theo cảm tính của mình - exhilarating /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/ (a) very exciting and great fun, phấn khích, hồ hởi - get away from it all (idiom) to go somewhere, usually on holiday, where you can completely relax and forget your responsibilities or problems, ám chỉ việc muốn rời xa nhịp sống thường nhật, đến một nơi xa để thư giãn, lấy lại động lực - hardly have time to breathe: To be extremely busy, quá bận + have time to breathe: có thời gian để thở (tức là có thời gian để xả hơi) 108

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- sought-after (a) /ˈsɔːt æftər/ wanted by many people, because it is of very good quality or difficult to get or to find, được săn đón, được ưa thích - blow someone away (phr v) to impress somebody a lot or to make them very happy, làm ai choáng ngợp, làm họ hạnh phúc - before my very eyes (idiom) while you are watching, ngay trước mắt mình - in its entirety /ɪnˈtaɪərəti/: as a whole; completely, toàn bộ Ex. I've never actually read the book in its entirety (Tôi chưa từng đọc toàn bộ quyển sách này) - scenic /ˈsiːnɪk/ (a) [usually before noun] having beautiful natural scenery, có phong cảnh đẹp - not take your eyes off someone/ something (idiom): to not stop looking at someone or something, ko thể dời mắt khỏi ai/ cái gì - soothing /ˈsuːðɪŋ/ (a) that makes somebody who is anxious, upset, etc. feel calmer, êm dịu, khiến người đang buồn, lo lắng cảm thấy bình tĩnh hơn - therapeutic /ˌθerəˈpjuːtɪk/ (a) helping you to relax, giúp bạn thư giãn Ex: I find listening to music very therapeutic. - simply can’t be share through the lens of the camera: không thể chia sẻ qua ống kính máy ảnh. - a crime (noun): an act that you think is morally wrong or is a big mistake, một sai lầm cực lớn + It's a crime to waste so much money. - sample something /ˈsæmpl/ (v) to try a small amount of a particular food to see what it is like; to experience something for a short time to see what it is like, ăn thử; trải nghiệm cái gì thử xem nó như thế nào - delicacy /ˈdelɪkəsi/ (countable noun) a type of food considered to be very special in a particular place, 1 món đặc sản địa phương ~ specialty /ˌspeʃiˈæləti/ + try local delicacies/ specialties: thử các đặc sản địa phương - the holiday/experience/chance etc of a lifetime: the best holiday/experience/ chance etc that you will ever have, kỳ nghỉ/ trải nghiệm/ cơ hội/… tuyệt vời nhất mà bạn từng có - sublime /səˈblaɪm/ (a) of very high quality or great beauty, tuyệt vời - price (v) to fix the price of something at a particular level, đặt giá, định giá + be priced + adv./prep→ be reasonably priced: gía cả hợp lý - impeccable /ɪmˈpekəbl/ (a) without mistakes or faults, hoàn hảo, ko chê vào đâu được 109

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~ perfect eye-opening /ˈaɪ əʊpənɪŋ/ (a) (of an event or experience) causing a feeling of surprise because it shows you something that you did not already know, mở rộng tầm mắt blast (n) a very happy experience that is a lot of fun, trải nghiệm tràn đầy niềm vui have an absolute blast: có một khoảng thời gian tuyệt vời out of this world (idiom) used to emphasize how good, beautiful, etc. something is, tuyệt vời, đầy ấn tượng, không còn lời gì diễn tả

11.Describe a trip that was not up to your expectations. WHERE IT WAS When I read the cue card, the first thing that comes to mind is the road trip that I took last summer to Tam Dao, which can be found in a Highland region in the north of Vietnam. WHEN IT WAS I went to Tam Dao when I was a bit sick of Hanoi and wanted a getaway with a complete change of scenery and climate. But at the same time, I didn’t want to go too far, no airplanes or trains, just a quick motorbike ride. After months of working non-stop which had really sucked the life out of me, I thought Tam Dao would be a perfect destination for me to stay for about 2 days weekend. WHAT HAPPENED It was exhilarating to get away from it all and have some time to breathe, so I got up at the crack of dawn to prepare everything just to make sure that things would fall into place. If my memory serves me right, I hit the road at 8 am in the morning. At first, the weather seemed fine, it was sunny, but as I was going, dark clouds started to build up above the horizon, and then it began to rain. You know … like … in order to reach the 110

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town, I had to drive through a very winding and steep road. Riding in the rain was really treacherous and also required me to do a lot of maneuvering. I even got soaked to the skin even though I was wearing a raincoat, which literally drove me insane. When I first stepped foot /set foot in that town, the weather was mild and lovely, which was pretty good. However, there was nothing much to do around here, and it was also really difficult for me to enjoy the fresh air since many construction sites were kind of spoiling it, so all in all, it was not what I expected. EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS NOT UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS I would say it was the most disappointing trip that I’ve had in my life. The journey was too draining and this place just left a lot to be desired actually. VOCABULARY - Be sick of somebody/ something: (a) bored with or annoyed about something that has been happening for a long time, and wanting it to stop, chán ngấy ai/ cái gì - getaway /ˈɡetəweɪ/ (n): a short holiday; a place that is suitable for a holiday, 1 kỳ nghỉ ngắn; 1 nơi mà phù hợp cho nghỉ dưỡng - a change of scenery: If you have a change of scenery, you go somewhere different after being in a particular place for a long time, thay đổi khung cảnh, “đổi gió” - non-stop (adv) without any breaks or stops, liên tục ~ continuously - suck the life out of me: almost kill you, take away all of your energy, “gần như giết chết ai”, “hút hết hết năng lượng của ai” - at the crack of dawn (idiom) very early in the morning, especially at the time when the sun first appears, tờ mờ sáng, sáng sớm tinh mơ - exhilarating /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/ (a) very exciting and great fun, phấn khích, hồ hởi - get away from it all (idiom) to go somewhere, usually on holiday, where you can completely relax and forget your responsibilities or problems, ám chỉ việc muốn rời xa nhịp sống thường nhật, đến một nơi xa để thư giãn, lấy lại động lực - fall into place (idiom) when things fall into place, they happen in a satisfactory way, without problems, trôi chảy, suôn sẻ - if my memory serves me right (idiom) if I remember correctly, nếu tôi nhớ không nhầm 111

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- hit the road (idiom) to leave a place or begin a journey, bắt đầu khởi hành - treacherous /ˈtretʃərəs/(a) dangerous, especially when seeming safe, nguy hiểm Ex: The ice on the roads made driving conditions treacherous. (Băng trên đường khiến điều kiện lái xe trở nên nguy hiểm) - maneuvering /məˈnuːvərɪŋ/ (n) the action of moving, or of moving something, with skill and care, điều khiển với kỹ năng và sự cẩn thận - be/get soaked to the skin: completely wet, ướt nhoẹt - drive me insane/crazy/nuts: khiến tôi phát điên - set foot in somewhere: to go to a place, đặt chân đến đâu ~ step foot - spoil something /spɔɪl/ (v) to change something good into something bad, unpleasant, etc., làm hỏng, biến cái gì tốt thành xấu ~ ruin - leave a lot to be desired (idiom) to be much worse than you would like, ko được như mong đợi 12.Describe an important holiday that is celebrated in your country.

WHAT THE HOLIDAY IS When I read the cue card, the first thing that pops into my head is Tet Holiday, which is known as Lunar New Year. WHEN THIS CELEBRATION TAKES PLACE In case you don’t know Tet is the most important and popular holiday in Vietnam, and it usually falls in late January and early or mid-February. WHAT PEOPLE DO DURING THIS CELEBRATION You’ll know Tet is around the corner when people start buying peach blossoms, yellow apricot trees, or kumquat trees. Similar to pine trees for the Christmas holiday in the West, Vietnamese also use many kinds of flowers and plants to decorate their houses on this special occasion. Because Tet is the biggest celebration for Vietnamese people, there are a lot of preparations that need to be done before it. A week prior to Tet, markets and streets 112

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are jam-packed with shoppers as most of the stores will be closed during Tet. Everyone is busy buying decorations for their house, new clothes, food, and especially candies. On top of that, Banh Chung, or sticky rice cake, which is an indispensable culinary beauty of Tet, consists of glutinous rice, mung bean, and pork belly. For Vietnamese people, the process of making Banh Chung is the opportunity for families to come together, sit around the warm fire, and have idle chit-chat about what’s going on in their lives. AND EXPLAIN WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT Tet means a lot to Vietnamese people as we are very family-oriented. For us, Tet’s not just a celebration of a new year, but an occasion for family reunions. This is the only time of the year when we can temporarily forget all the pressures or worries from our daily lives and just relish every moment with our loved ones. VOCABULARY - pops into your head/mind: to suddenly think of something, đột nhiên nghĩ ra cái gì - be around the corner (idiom) not far away, or going to happen soon, sắp xảy ra, sắp đến rồi - peach blossom: hoa đào - yellow apricot trees/ˈæprɪkɑːt/ : cây hoa mai - kumquat trees /ˈkʌmkwɑːt/: cây quất - jam-packed (with somebody/something) /ˌdʒæm ˈpækt/ (a) very full or crowded, chật ních ai/ cái gì Ex: The train was jam-packed with commuters. - prior to something (C1) before a particular time or event, trước cái gì - candied fruits: mứt hoa quả (bạn đều biết candy là kẹo đúng ko, nhưng ở đây “candied” sẽ đóng vai trò là 1 tính từ, với nghĩa là “được nấu với đường”. Ví dụ: candied ginger thì sẽ có nghĩa là mứt gừng, candied coconut thì sẽ có nghĩa là mứt dừa) - indispensable culinary beauty /ˌɪndɪˈspensəbl ˈkʌlɪneri /: vẻ đẹp ẩm thực không 113

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thể thiếu - glutinous rice /ˈɡluːtənəs/ : gạo dẻo, gạo nếp - mung bean /mʌŋ biːn / a small round green bean, đậu xanh - pork belly: thịt ba chỉ/ thị ba dọi - have idle chit-chat about something: tán dóc về chuyện gì + Chit-chat (uncountable noun): = chat, cuộc trò chuyện về những thứ ko quan trọng + Idle (a) /ˈaɪdl/ [ thường đứng trước danh từ ]: with no particular purpose or effect - grown-up /ˈɡrəʊn ʌp/ (n) an adult person, người lớn ~ adult - ……-oriented /ɔːrientɪd/ (a) directed towards something or made or adapted for a particular purpose, hướng về Ex: family-oriented (a) hướng về gia đình - temporarily forget all the pressures or worries from our daily lives /ˌtempəˈrerəli/: tạm thời quên đi những áp lực hay lo toan từ cuộc sống hàng ngày - relish something /ˈrelɪʃ/ (v) to get great pleasure from something; to want very much to do or have something, tận hưởng ~ enjoy - reunion (n) a social occasion or party attended by a group of people who have not seen each other for a long time, dịp sum họp Ex. a family reunion Ex. the school’s annual reunion

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SPORTS & PHYSICAL EXERCISE 1. Do you like playing sports? Well, I’m really keen on playing sports, and my favourite is badminton. To be honest, I wasn’t a very sporty person but late last year, I decided to take my health game pretty seriously since I had suffered from a lot of bodily discomforts. Yeah, I would say, practicing a sport regularly really helps me out. It gives me endorphins, stabilizes my mind, and allows me to center myself when I'm working. VOCABULARY - Be keen on something/ doing something (a) : very enthusiastic about, interested in or fond of, thích thú cái gì/ làm gì - sporty /ˈspɔːrti/ (a) liking or good at sport, thích chơi thể thao; giỏi thể thao - take someone/something seriously: coi trọng cái gì - suffer from something (v): to be badly affected by a disease, pain, sad feelings, a lack of something, etc., chịu đựng điều gì (có thể là bệnh tật/ cơn đau/ nỗi buồn/ thiếu thốn gì đó…) - bodily (a) connected with the human body, [chỉ đứng trước danh từ] thuộc về cơ thể - discomfort /dɪsˈkʌmfərt/(n) a feeling of being uncomfortable physically or mentally, or something that causes this, cảm giác khó chịu (về mặt thể chất hoặc tinh thần) + bodily discomfort: cảm giác khó chịu trên cơ thể - endorphin /enˈdɔːrfɪn/ (n) a hormone produced in the brain that reduces the feeling of pain, 1 một loại hóc môn được sản sinh ra trong não bộ nhằm giảm cảm giác đau đớn - stabilize/ˈsteɪbəlaɪz/ (v) to become or to make something become steady and unlikely to change; to make something stable, làm ổn định + stabilize my mind: làm ổn định tâm trí tôi - center myself (v): to find your place of peace in your mind. To be at your most calm mindset and think clearly, tìm thấy được sự bình yên trong tâm hồn, đầu óc bình tĩnh nhất của bạn và suy nghĩ rõ ràng

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2. What sports are popular in Vietnam? Football is the most popular sport in Vietnam, hands down. I mean Vietnamese people are always obsessed with it. For example, when it is football season, lots of avid football fans usually go to watch matches at pavement cafes and root for their favorite teams. Moreover, after every historic win of the national team, many places in Vietnam are abuzz with excitement as a sea of people pours into the streets to celebrate the victory of their country. Besides, Vietnamese also have an affinity for other sports like badminton, volleyball, or basketball. VOCABULARY - hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi - be obsessed with something (a) unable to stop thinking about something; too interested in or worried about something, bị ám ảnh bởi cái gì, ko thể dừng nghĩ về nó - avid /ˈævɪd/ (a) very enthusiastic about something (often a hobby), [ thường đứng trước danh từ ], cuồng nhiệt - pavement cafe (n) a restaurant with tables and chairs outside on the pavement or on a street where vehicles do not normally go, quán cà phê vỉa hè - root for somebody /ruːt/ (phr v) to support or encourage somebody in a sports competition or when they are in a difficult situation, cổ vũ, ủng hộ ai - be abuzz (with something) /əˈbʌz/ (a) filled with a continuous humming sound, náo nhiệt với cái gì - sea of something: a lot of something Ex. She looked out at the sea of faces in the audience. - pour + adv/prep (v) : to come or go somewhere continuously in large numbers ~ flood Ex: The crowd poured into the streets: đám đông đổ ra các con phố - have an affinity for /əˈfɪnəti/: have a strong feeling that you understand somebody/something and like them or it, ham thích cái gì

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3. Do you think it is important to play a sport? Absolutely yes. I would say playing sports does wonders for your mental and physical health. It’s the best way to improve your fitness, get in shape, and be more positive. Your future self will also thank you for always taking care of your health. You know, we just have one body, and being sedentary is not serving us in any way. If anything, just sitting in place, focusing on work, and not getting that energy out, it's gonna cripple you. VOCABULARY - do wonders for somebody/ something (idiom) to have a very good effect on somebody/something, mang lại điều kỳ diệu cho ai/ cái gì - fitness: (uncountable noun) the state of being physically healthy and strong, sự khỏe mạnh về mặt thể chất - (get/keep/stay) in shape: (to get/stay) in good physical condition, lấy lại vóc dáng/ giữ dáng (cụm này dùng cho người) - sedentary /ˈsednteri/ (a) (of people) spending a lot of time sitting down and not moving, ít vận động - If anything (idiom) used when you are adding something to emphasize what you have just said, [cụm từ này sẽ dùng để nhấn mạnh những gì bạn vừa nói] Ex. I don't want to hang out with him. If anything, I prefer to avoid him. Ex. She is not friendly. If anything, she is quite rude. Để bạn có thể hiểu từ này hơn, bạn đọc thử link này nhé: https://www.studytienganh.vn/news/5281/if-anything-la-gi-va-cau-truc-cum-tuif-anything-trong-cau-tienganh#:~:text=If%20anything%3A%20n%E1%BA%BFu%20c%C3%B3%2C%20c%C3% B3%20th%E1%BB%83. - in place: in one exact place, without moving in any direction, ở một chỗ, ko di chuyển ~ on the spot Ex. Running in place is good exercise. - cripple /ˈkrɪpl/ (v) to cause serious damage to someone or something, making 118

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him, her, or it weak and not effective, làm suy sút nghiêm trọng

4. What sports would you like to try in the future? Bạn cũng có thể biến tấu phần trả lời dưới đây cho câu hỏi: “Do you like extreme sports?” Well, I’d like to have a crack at some extreme sports like skydiving, paragliding or bungee jumping because I want to push my boundaries and get outside my comfort zone. Also, I love doing something different to excite me and kind of feel the energy of life. So I think action sports/ adventure sports will spice things up for me when I get bored of my own routine in the day-to-day monotonous tasks. A while ago, I gave kitesurfing a go, and I definitely felt the endorphins and all the serotonin surging through my mind/ my body. VOCABULARY - have a crack at something: attempt (to do) something, to try to do something difficult thử cố gắng làm điều gì đó - push the boundaries/limits: to attempt to go beyond what is allowed or thought to be possible, to act in a way that challenges established, expected, or accepted norms, đẩy lùi giới hạn, làm những điều gì phá cách - get outside my comfort zone: đi ra khỏi vùng an toàn của mình - spice something (up) (with something) to add interest or excitement to something, thêm “gia vị” để làm cho cái gì thêm phần thú vị - be bored of with/of somebody/something: feeling tired and impatient because you have lost interest in somebody/something or because you have nothing to do, cảm thấy nhàm chán - day-to-day monotonous tasks: những công việc đơn điệu hàng ngày - excite somebody /ɪkˈsaɪt/ (v) to make somebody feel very pleased, interested or enthusiastic, especially about something that is going to happen, kích thích ai đó, làm ai hứng thú với cái gì - give something a go: to attempt something, to try something, especially something with which one has little or no experience, thử cái gì đó 119

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- endorphin /enˈdɔːrfɪn/ (n) a hormone produced in the brain that reduces the feeling of pain, 1 một loại hóc môn được sản sinh ra trong não bộ nhằm giảm cảm giác đau đớn - serotonin /ˌserəˈtəʊnɪn/ (uncountable noun) a neurotransmitter (= a chemical in the body that carries messages from the brain) that helps you feel relaxed and happy, là chất dẫn truyền tín hiệu cho các tế bào thần kinh, khiến chúng ta cảm thấy thư thái và hạnh phúc - surge /sɜːrdʒ/ (v) [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to fill somebody with a strong feeling, lấp đầy ai với cảm giác gì HOẶC cảm giác gì đó dâng trào trong ai Ex: Relief surged through her (Sự nhẹ nhõm trào dâng trong cô)

5. Do you like watching sports programs on TV? Answer 1 I must confess although I love playing some types of sports, watching them is definitely not my cup of tea. This is because I don’t want to spend more downtime on trivial things like watching TV. I know it’s really easy-breezy for us just to slump down in front of the telly and watch a good football match, right? But, to me, time is a very valuable currency. Just in a blink of an eye, everything is gone, and I just want to make the most of my time to do something good for my future. Answer 2 Definitely yes! although I’m always up to my ears in deadlines, after working all day, I prefer to put aside some time to just sit in front of the telly and enjoy a good sports game. Personally, I think this is an excellent way to let my hair down and temporarily forget all the pressures or worries from daily life VOCABULARY - not somebody’s cup of tea (n):(informal) not what somebody likes or is interested in, ko phải là cái mà ai đó thích 120

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- downtime /ˈdaʊntaɪm/ (n) the time when somebody stops working and is able to relax, thời gian chết ( từ này chuyên dùng trong tiếng Anh Mỹ) - trivial /ˈtrɪviəl/ (a) not important or serious; not worth considering, tầm thường, ko quan trọng - easy-peasy /ˌiː.ziˈpiː.zi/ (a) very easy, rất dễ = easy-breezy - slump + adv/prep /slʌmp/ (v): to sit or fall down heavily, ngồi phịch xuống, ngã xuống 1 cách nặng nề +slump down: ngồi phịch xuống - telly /ˈteli/ [countable noun] a television set, Ti vi - time is a very valuable currency: thời gian là 1 loại tiền bạc vô cùng quý giá - in a blink of an eye (idiom): extremely quickly, trong nháy mắt - make the most of something (idiom) to use or enjoy something as much as possible, tận dụng tối đa, lợi thế tốt nhất - be up to your ears in something (idiom) : to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - put something aside (phr v) to save something, usually time or money, for a special purpose, để dành thời gian/ tiền làm gì - let your hair down: (informal) to relax and enjoy yourself, especially in a lively way, xả hơi, thư giãn 6. Do you like to watch live sports games? Well, although I have my hands full with a lot of work, watching a sports game in the flesh still tickles my fancy. I don’t know but I just love blending in the crowds where supporters are chanting, cheering, and shouting after each goal. This adrenaline atmosphere never fails to excite me. It helps me get rid of workrelated stress, and I get a real kick out of it. VOCABULARY - have my hands full (idiom) to be so busy that you do not have time to do anything else, quá bận đến nỗi mà bạn chẳng có thời gian để làm bất cứ điều gì 121

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- in the flesh (idiom) in real life, and not on TV, in a film, in a picture, etc., ngoài đời thực, ko phải trên TV hay phim ảnh - tickle someone's fancy (idiom) If something tickles your fancy, you like it and want to have it. Cụm từ này chỉ (ai đó) thấy hấp dẫn, thích thú hoặc thu hút từ một thứ gì đó. Nếu điều gì đó "tickle your fancy" nghĩa là bạn thích nó và muốn có nó. - adrenaline /əˈdrenəlɪn/ (n) hormone that runs through your body, makes you excited, một loại hooc môn chạy trong cơ thể bạn, làm cho bạn hào hứng - never fail to do something: used for emphasizing that someone or something always does something that you expect them to do, luôn đám ứng mong đợi của ai, chưa từng thất bại trong việc gì - get rid of somebody/something: to make yourself free of somebody/something that is annoying you or that you do not want; to throw something away, loại bỏ, bỏ đi - work-related stress: căng thẳng liên quan đến công việc - get a kick out of (something): to feel amusement, delight or excitement about something or someone, bạn cảm thấy rất thích làm việc đó hoặc bạn thích cái đó 7. Who is your favorite sports star? Well, I would say Lionel Messi is my all-time favorite. In case you don’t know, Messi is one of the greatest football players in the world. Last December, he led Argentina to the World Cup victory which was considered the final cherry on top of his incredible career. There are writers and artists out there who can do him better justice than me in terms of explaining his greatness, but personally, he is undoubtedly the most wellrounded footballer that I've ever seen. VOCABULARY - all-time favourite /ˈfeɪvərɪt/ : favorite of all choices, during all times, cái gì/ người mà ai lúc nào cũng thích - the cherry on top (idiom): something that makes something that is already good even better, or perfect, điều gì đó làm cho cái gì đang tốt rồi giờ còn tốt hơn, hoàn hảo hơn 122

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Ex. The garden is not our main reason for buying this house, but it's the cherry on top. Bạn có thể xem thêm về từ này qua link sau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_S5PRgWwYY - do someone/something justice (idiom) to treat someone or something in a way that is fair and shows their or its true qualities, đánh giá ai/ cái gì một cách chính xác. ~ do someone/something justice - well-rounded /ˌwel ˈraʊndɪd/ (a) having a variety of experiences and abilities and a fully developed personality, toàn diện

8. Do you prefer individual sports or team sports? Answer 1 I would say with lots of confidence that I prefer the former. Actually, I’ve done a lot of individual sports before like running or badminton, and I’m just nuts about them/ I’m just obsessed with them . I think my personality is much more of an individual athlete since I love doing everything by myself and enjoying my own company. Of course, playing team sports is a fun social activity, however, I feel like playing individual sports really helps instill in me the value of self-discipline and self-reliance. Answer 2 Well, I love team sports simply because I always get a kick out of doing them. I don’t know why but I just feel this huge rush of endorphins and serotonin surging through my mind after. Besides, team sports really give me a sense of group belonging and teach me the value of teamwork. Being a part of a group also helps incentivize me to practice more to keep up with my peers, which motivates me to train harder and be a better version of myself.

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VOCABULARY - be nuts about something/someone /nʌts/ (a) to be very enthusiastic about an object, activity, or person, cực kì thích cái gì, ai. Note: Từ “nuts” trong trường hợp này là 1 tính từ, bạn nhớ nhe, hehe! - be obsessed with something (a) unable to stop thinking about something; too interested in or worried about something, bị ám ảnh bởi cái gì, ko thể dừng nghĩ về nó - by myself: alone; without anyone else, một mình - enjoy your own company: tận hưởng không gian riêng của bản thân - instil something (in/into somebody): to gradually put an idea or attitude into somebody's mind; to make somebody feel, think or behave in a particular way over a period of time, truyền dẫn (ý nghĩ, tình cảm...) cho, làm cho thấm nhuần dần + to instil confidence/discipline/fear into somebody - self-discipline /ˌself ˈdɪsəplɪn/(n) the ability to make yourself do something, especially something difficult or unpleasant, sự tự kỷ luật - self-reliance /ˌself rɪˈlaɪəns/ (n) the ability to do or decide things by yourself, rather than depending on other people for help, sự tự lực, sự dựa vào sức mình - get a kick out of (something): to feel amusement, delight or excitement about something or someone, bạn cảm thấy rất thích làm việc đó hoặc bạn thích cái đó - rush of something (n) a sudden strong emotion or sign of strong emotion + rush of endorphins: 1 dòng endorphins khổng lồ - endorphin /enˈdɔːrfɪn/ (n) a hormone produced in the brain that reduces the feeling of pain, 1 một loại hóc môn được sản sinh ra trong não bộ nhằm giảm cảm giác đau đớn - serotonin /ˌserəˈtəʊnɪn/ (uncountable noun) a neurotransmitter (= a chemical in the body that carries messages from the brain) that helps you feel relaxed and happy, là chất dẫn truyền tín hiệu cho các tế bào thần kinh, khiến chúng ta cảm thấy thư thái và hạnh phúc - a sense of group belonging: cảm giác thuộc về 1 nhóm - incentivize somebody to do something: (v) to encourage somebody to behave in a particular way by offering them a reward, khuyến khích ai làm gì - keep up (with somebody/something): theo kịp, bắt kịp ai/ cái gì - a better version of myself: một phiên bản tốt hơn của bản thân. 124

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9. Do you think children should play sports regularly? Absolutely yes. I’m a firm believer in the tremendous benefits that children can reap from playing sports. You know, children nowadays are jam-packed with classes from morning till night, so being physically active will help them relax for a while and also keep their minds off the schoolwork Moreover if they try to do some sporting activities for about 30 minutes every day, they can be healthier, stronger and also less prone to some health problems later on. On top of that, through playing sports, small kids can learn the value of teamwork or the concept of winning and losing, which are really essential for their future careers, hands down. VOCABULARY - be a (great/firm) believer in something: to believe strongly that something is good and effective, tin tưởng mạnh sẽ vào điều gì tốt/ hiệu quả - tremendous /trəˈmendəs/ (a) very great in amount or level, or extremely good, rất lớn, hoặc cực tốt - reap (v) to get something, usually something good, as a result of your actions or other people's actions, gặt hái được, đạt được lợi ích, (từ này cũng có thể dùng cho việc thu hoạch vụ mùa) - jam-packed (with somebody/something) /ˌdʒæm ˈpækt/ (a) very full or crowded, chật cứng Ex. The train was jam-packed with commuters. - take/keep one’s mind off something: to make someone stop thinking and worrying about something, giải tỏa đầu óc, khiến ai đó dừng nghĩ hay lo lắng về điều gì. - prone to something /prəʊn/(a) likely to suffer from something or to do something bad, dễ bị gì Ex: Working without a break makes you more prone to error. ( Làm việc mà ko nghỉ ngơi khiến bạn dễ mắc lỗi hơn) 125

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- the concept of winning and losing: khái niệm thắng thua - hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi

10.How often do you exercise? Well, exercise is one of my three non-negotiables to have a good day and to be in a good mood. Even though I’m always up to my ears in work, I still try to squeeze in a 30-minute workout on a day-to-day basis. Normally, I like to knock out my exercise first thing in the morning because when I wake up, I'm groggy, and I just want to just get it out of the way. I’ve always struggled with big dips in my mood to be honest, and I would say exercising consistently helps stabilize my mind. Also, my back pain and episodes of headache are gone because of that. VOCABULARY - non-negotiable /ˌnɑːn nɪˈɡəʊʃiəbl/ (n) something that is non-negotiable, điều mà bạn ko thể thỏa hiệp, bắt buộc phải làm - be in a good mood: tâm trạng tốt - be up to your ears in something (idiom) : to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - squeeze somebody/something in /skwiːz/ (phr v) to give time to somebody/something, although you are very busy, cố gắng dành thời gian cho cái gì, mặc dù bạn rất bận rộn - knock out something: ~ deal with something, xử lý - groggy /ˈɡrɑːɡi/ (a) weak and unable to think or move well because you are ill or very tired, chếnh choáng, chệnh choạng - get something out of the way (idiom) to finish something - dip in something (countable noun) a decrease in the amount or success of something, usually for only a short period, giảm cái gì, thường trong thời gian ngắn - stabilize/ˈsteɪbəlaɪz/ (v) to become or to make something become steady and unlikely to change; to make something stable, làm ổn định + stabilize my mind: làm ổn định tâm trí tôi 126

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- episode /ˈepɪsəʊd/ (n) a period of time during which somebody is affected by a particular illness or a particular stage of a longer illness, cơn đau 11. What kind of exercises do you do? Answer 1 Well, I've been sticking with my own workout routine for several months. When I go to the gym, I just start off with 15 minutes of cardio. This can be anything, but I normally do the treadmill or the elliptical. After cardio, I'll do 15 minutes of strength training. And this is when you're really melting and burning everything off. Sometimes, if I don’t want to hit the gym, maybe on the rare days that it’s raining, I just try to do a 30-minute compilation of different types of moves at home and just call it a day.

Answer 2 Well, I would say my exercise preferences are all over the place. I love walking, running, hiking, strength training, and yoga. It's a blend of everything because I do believe that variety is the spice of life. Right now, my heavy phase is weight lifting twice a week, yoga twice a week and then hiking or running one time a week. And I find that this has been a nice way for me to stay active and get/keep moving . VOCABULARY - stick with something (phr v) to continue with something or continue doing something, gắn bó với cái gì, tiếp tục làm nó mà ko thay đổi sang cái khác - start off (phr v) to begin by doing or being something - cardio (uncountable noun) exercises to make your heart work harder that you do to keep yourself fit, bài tập thể dục như chạy bộ, nhảy... làm tăng nhịp tim của người tập và là một trong những phương pháp hiệu quả dành cho người giảm cân - treadmill (n) an exercise machine that has a moving surface that you can walk or 127

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run on while remaining in the same place, máy chạy bộ elliptical machine /ɪˈlɪptɪkl/: máy tập thể dục elip Ở trên mình chỉ để “elliptical” thôi, vì để vậy người ta cũng biết là “elliptical machine” rồi. strength training (n) activities that make muscles stronger burn something off (phr v): to use energy by doing exercise hit the gym: đi đến phòng tập compilation /ˌkɑːmpɪˈleɪʃn/ (n) a collection of items, especially pieces of music or writing, taken from different places and put together, bộ tổng hợp call it a day (idiom) to stop what you are doing because you do not want to do any more or think you have done enough, dừng làm việc mà bạn đang làm vì bạn ko muốn làm nữa hoặc bạn thấy rằng mình đã làm đủ rồi all over the place (idiom) not correct, regular, or well organized; changing a lot without reason, ko đều đặn, ko có tổ chức, hay thay đổi variety is the spice of life (idiom) said to emphasize that doing many different things, or often changing what you do, makes life interesting, sự đa dạng là hương vị của cuộc sống, nghĩa là có nhiều trải nghiệm, thay đổi, đổi mới thì cuộc sống mới vui tươi, thú vị.

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12. Describe an activity you do for your health or fitness?

WHAT IT IS Today, I’m gonna talk about jogging, an exercise that does wonders for my mental and physical health. HOW YOU FIRST KNEW ABOUT IT I tried my hand at jogging a few months ago. At that time, I was always snowed under with a lot of work, so there was no time for me to breathe let alone time for doing other stuff, like exercising to be specific. It stays crystal clear in my memory that I was suffering from a lot of bodily discomforts. And it just got to the point where my aches started to flare up, and I was unable to move much until my doctor started to treat me. After hitting rock bottom, I started to take my health game seriously and decided to break into a jog. HOW OFTEN YOU DO IT Now, no matter how busy I am, I always try to squeeze in a 30-minute jog on a daily basis. Normally, at the crack of dawn, I kick off my day with a little jog around the park while soaking up the fresh air and feeling the breeze, which is so refreshing and rejuvenating. EXPLAIN WHY YOU LIKE IT. Personally, I’m really into jogging as I think it’s not too strenuous for me and doesn’t take me too much time to do. Also, I find that this has been an excellent way to improve my fitness, stay active and boost my mood. Even when I have a horrible day, and everything goes wrong, I feel accomplished since I know I’m doing something to take care of myself. VOCABULARY

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- do wonders for somebody/ something (idiom) to have a very good effect on somebody/something, mang lại điều kỳ diệu cho ai/ cái gì - try your hand at something (idiom) to try doing something for the first time, thử lần đầu làm điều gì đó - be snowed under (with something): (idiom) have a lot of work or other things to deal with, có rất nhiều việc để xử lý, ngập trong cái gì. - let alone: used to emphasize that something is more impossible than another thing, chưa nói đến, huống chi, huống hồ - crystal clear /ˌkrɪstl ˈklɪr/ (a) very easy to understand; completely obvious - bodily (a) connected with the human body, [chỉ đứng trước danh từ] thuộc về cơ thể - discomfort /dɪsˈkʌmfərt/(n) a feeling of being uncomfortable physically or mentally, or something that causes this, cảm giác khó chịu (về mặt thể chất hoặc tinh thần) - bodily discomfort: cảm giác khó chịu trên cơ thể - ache /eɪk/ (n) a continuous feeling of pain in a part of the body, sự đau, sự nhức (đau kéo dài) - flare up (phr v) (of an illness, injury, etc.) to suddenly start again or become worse, tái phát (bệnh tật..) - rock bottom /ˌrɑːk ˈbɑːtəm/ (n): the most unhappy that someone has ever been in their life, điều tồi tệ nhất xảy ra trong cuộc đời ai đó + hit/ reach rock bottom - break into something (phr v) to suddenly begin to do something, bắt đầu làm gì - squeeze somebody/something in /skwiːz/ (phr v) to give time to somebody/something, although you are very busy, cố gắng dành thời gian cho cái gì, mặc dù bạn rất bận rộn - at the crack of dawn (idiom) very early in the morning, especially at the time when the sun first appears, tờ mờ sáng, sáng sớm tinh mơ - kick off (with something) (phr v) to start, bắt đầu với cái gì - soak up (phr v) to experience something good or pleasant with your senses, your body or your mind = enjoy, tận hưởng = take in - breeze (n) a light wind, gió nhẹ - Rejuvenate (v) /rɪˈdʒuːvəneɪt/ to make someone look or feel young and energetic again, làm ai trông trẻ lại và cảm thấy tràn đầy năng lượng trở lại Ex. She felt rejuvenated by her fortnight in the Bahamas. 130

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- strenuous /ˈstrenjuəs/(a) needing great effort and energy, tốn sức - fitness (uncountable noun): the state of being physically healthy and strong, sự khỏe mạnh về mặt thể chất - boost your mood: cải thiện tâm trạng - accomplished /əˈkɑːmplɪʃt/ (a) very good at a particular thing; having a lot of skills

13.Describe a sports game you have watched. WHAT IT WAS When I read the cue card, the first thing that comes to mind is the 2022 World Cup final match between Argentina and France, which was a real nail-biter. WHEN YOU WATCHED IT I watched it a few months ago. At that point, I was up to my ears in a ton of deadlines. It was a nerve-racking time for me, and it just got to the point where I was paralyzed to do anything. I really needed some time to breathe. To be honest, I wasn’t a football aficionado, so I didn’t know anything until my brother just kind of raved about Messi and his last World Cup. This really piqued my interest/curiosity, then I decided to watch this special game as a way to let my hair down for a while. HOW IT WAS Yeah, I was rooting for Argentina, hands down because I was dying to see Messi lift the World Cup trophy, which was the achievement that he had always dreamed of. To sum it up, for 80 minutes, Argentina took a 2-0 lead, and France didn’t have a shot on target. They looked leggy, lethargic, and tired...looked like they were going nowhere. Then all of a sudden, Kylian Mbappe leveled the score with only 10 minutes remaining. And this really brought the game to a dramatic climax. Finally, the match came down to a penalty kick shootout following a 3-3 tie after 131

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extra time. Actually, penalty shootouts were definitely my pet peeve since it was really tough for me to see through. However, in the end, Argentina defeated the defending champion France, and this literally brought me to tears. HOW YOU FELT ABOUT IT I would say this game was unbelievably mesmerizing to watch. I mean it was just epic. Argentina and France really made me on an emotional roller coaster from euphoria, surprises, shocks, upsets, and depression. To me, this was the greatest sporting event I've ever watched in my entire life. VOCABULARY - spring to mind (idiom) (of a thought or idea) immediately think of something, nghĩ ngay đến gì, điều gì xuất hiện đầu tiên trong tâm trí = come to mind - nail-biter /ˈneɪl baɪtər/ (n) a situation that makes you feel excited or anxious because you do not know what is going to happen, tình huống gay cấn, hồi hộp (khiến bạn hào hứng và lo lắng vì bạn không biết điều gì sẽ xảy ra tiếp theo) - be up to your ears in something (idiom): to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - nerve-racking /ˈnɜːrv rækɪŋ/ (a) making you feel very nervous and worried, đầy căng thẳng - paralyzed /ˈper.əl.aɪzd/ (a) unable to move or act, tê liệt + She was paralyzed with fear. - aficionado /əˌfɪʃəˈnɑːdəʊ/ (n) a person who likes a particular sport, activity or subject very much and knows a lot about it, người say mê (một môn thể thao, một thú giải trí nào đó) - rave (about somebody/something) /reɪv/ (v) to talk or write about something in a very enthusiastic way, nói say sưa; viết với lòng thán phục (về ai, về cái gì) - pique somebody’s interest, curiosity, etc. /piːk/ (idiom) to make someone interested in something and want to know more about it, khêu gợi (sự chú ý, tính tò mò…) - let your hair down: (informal)to relax and enjoy yourself, especially in a lively way, xả hơi, thư giãn - root for somebody /ruːt/ (phr v) to support or encourage somebody in a sports 132

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competition or when they are in a difficult situation, cổ vũ, ủng hộ ai hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi leggy /ˈleɡi/ (a) (most often used of a woman or girl) having long legs, chân dài (thường nói về phái nữ) lethargic /ləˈθɑːrdʒɪk/ (a) without any energy or enthusiasm for doing things, phờ phạc, bơ phờ, chẳng có tý năng lượng nào get/go nowhere = not get/go any where: to not make any progress or achieve anything, chẳng đi tới đâu, chẳng có tiến triển gì level (something) /ˈlevl/ (v)to make something, especially a score in sport, equal or similar, san bằng (đặc biệt là tỉ số trận đấu) Ex. to level the match/game climax /ˈklaɪmæks/ (n) the most exciting or important event or point in time, cao trào, đỉnh cao come down to something (phr v) If a situation or decision comes down to something, that is the thing that influences it most, phụ thuộc vào điều gì rất quan trọng nhất (cần điều đó quyết định) Ex: It all comes down to money in the end. (Cuối cùng thì tất cả đều quy về tiền.) shootout/ penalty shootout /ˌpenəlti ˈʃuːt aʊt/(n) a way of deciding who will win a football game in which both teams finished with the same number of goals, by each team taking turns to have a set number of kicks at the goal, loạt sút luân lưu tie /taɪ/ (n) a situation in a game or competition when two or more players have the same score, tỷ số hòa Ex: The match ended in a tie. pet peeve (US) something that you particularly dislike and especially annoys you thứ mà bạn cực ghét và làm bạn khó chịu = pet hate (UK) the defending champion: the champion who currently holds the title, là nhà vô địch mùa giải trước và hiện tại đang chiến đấu để bảo vệ danh hiệu này brought me to tears: to make you cry, or to feel as if you are going to cry, làm tôi khóc, khiến tôi cảm thấy như mình sắp khóc unbelievably /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbli/ (adv) extremely, cực kỳ (Từ này có 1 nghĩa khác là: “in a way that is very difficult to believe, khó tin”) mesmerizing /ˈmezməraɪzɪŋ/ having such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your attention to anything else, mê hoặc, quyến rũ, khiến bạn ko thể dời mắt 133

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- epic (a) particularly impressive or remarkable, cực kỳ ấn tượng - roller coaster /ˈrəʊlər kəʊstər/ (n) a roller coaster is also a feeling, situation, or experience that changes very quickly - euphoria /juːˈfɔːriə/ (n) an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement that usually lasts only a short time, hưng phấn (kéo dài trong 1 khoảng thời gian ngắn) 14.Dưới đây là một vài từ vựng hay ho các bạn có thể dùng trong topic nay nhé THỪA CÂN/ SỨC KHỎE YẾU - gain weight = put on weight = get fatter: tăng cân, béo lên - out of shape (idiom) not physically healthy enough for difficult exercise because you have not been involved in physical activities, không khỏe mạnh về mặt thể chất". [Nó có thể dùng để chỉ cả người có thân hình quá khổ như hoặc người quá gầy hoặc không tập thể dục nhiều] Ex. I'm so out of shape that I get out of breath climbing the stairs. (Người ngợm tui yếu quá đến nỗi leo cầu thang cũng thở ko ra hơi) - off-color (a) slightly sick, không khỏe, ốm Ex. I'm feeling a little off-color today ĐẾN PHÒNG TẬP - to work out = to do a workout: tập thể dục - hit the gym: đi đến phòng tập - join a gym: đi đến phòng tập - sign up for a gym membership: đăng ký thành viên phòng tập - look for an accountability partner: tìm kiếm 1 người đồng hành giám sát + accountability partner: bạn đồng hành để kiểm tra xem mình có thực hiện 1 kế hoạch ko - look for someone who can coach me and hold me accountable: tìm kiếm người có thể huấn luyện tôi và kiểm tra xem tôi có làm đúng kế hoạch hay không + hold someone accountable for something (collocation): to make someone responsible for what they do and demand a satisfactory reason for it, khiến ai đó có trách nhiệm (vì điều gì đó), kiểm tra xem ai đó có làm đúng kế hoạch ko

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DUY TRÌ SỨC KHỎE - get fit → be fit → keep fit/ stay fit: trở nên khỏe mạnh → đang khỏe mạnh → duy trì sức khỏe + fit (a) healthy and strong, especially because you do regular physical exercise, khỏe mạnh - get into shape → be in good shape →keep in shape/ stay in shape: trở nên khỏe mạnh, cân đối🡪 đang trong tình trạng khỏe mạnh, cân đối 🡪 duy trì sự khỏe mạnh, cân đối + in shape: in good physical condition, trong điều khiện thể chất tốt GIẢM CÂN - get lean → stay lean: tập tành để trở nên săn chắc, khỏe mạnh hơn (kiểu ko có mỡ nữa mà chỉ có thịt thôi) → duy trì trạng thái săn chắc, khỏe mạnh + lean (a) (of people, especially men, or animals) without much fat; thin and fit, ko có mỡ, khỏe mạnh - maintain a healthy weight: duy trì cân nặng khỏe mạnh - burn calories: đốt cháy calo ~ lose weight: giảm chân ~ burn (belly) fat: đốt cháy mỡ bụng ~ get rid of my spare tire: loại bỏ mỡ bụng + spare tyre (BE) or spare tire (AE): a large area of too much fat around the middle part of somebody’s body, chỉ phần mỡ thừa bao quanh bụng – bụng phệ ~ shed some pounds/kilos: giảm cân + shed something (v) to get rid of something that is no longer wanted, loại bỏ

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BOOKS/ READING 1. Do you like reading? Answer 1 Absolutely yes, I’m really big on reading recreationally because it really broadens my horizons and also brings light to so many things that I otherwise would never know. Yeah, my reading preferences are all over the place. I love reading fiction, self-help books, and all that jazz because I do believe that variety is the spice of life. However, my bible is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Rober Kiyosaki which is a very popular book about personal finance. This book really shook up my perspective on money and made me more financially literate. VOCABULARY - be big on something (idiom) to like very much, rất thích cái j - horizon /həˈraɪzn/ (countable noun): the limit of your desires, knowledge or interests, (thường số nhiều) tầm nhìn, tầm hiểu biết, phạm vi kiến thức + broaden my horizons: mở rộng tầm nhìn. - bring something to light/ bring light to something (idiom) something is known to you, something helps you learn things. Ex. The government scandal was brought to light. Ex. Traveling brings to light lots of knowledge and culture - all over the place (idiom) not correct, regular, or well organized; changing a lot without reason, ko đều đặn, ko có tổ chức, hay thay đổi - and all that jazz (idiom) used when speaking to mean "and other similar things", những thứ tương tự như thế - spice something (up) (with something) /spaɪs/ (v): to add interest or excitement to something, thêm “gia vị” để làm cho cái gì thêm phần thú vị - bible /ˈbaɪbl/ (n) a book, magazine, etc. that gives important advice and information about a particular subject, 1 quyển sách/ tạp chí đưa cho bạn lời khuyên quan trọng, thông tin về 1 chủ đề nào đó - finance (uncountable noun): the activity of managing money, quản lý tài chính + personal finance: việc quản lý tài chính cá nhân - shake something up (phr v) to make important changes in an organization, a 137

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profession, etc. in order to make it more efficient. Cụm từ này thường mang nghĩa là “tạo ra một sự thay đổi lớn cho cái gì ” Ex. My life is boring, and I need to shake things up. - literate /ˈlɪtərət/ (a) having skills or knowledge in a specific area, có kỹ năng, kiến thức về 1 lĩnh vực nào đó + to be scientifically/financially literate: có kiến thức về khoa học/ tài chính 2. Are your reading habits now different than before? Definitely yes. To be honest, reading wasn’t my cup of tea. When I was younger, I used to be a real sucker for music, movies, and all that kind of stuff. But everything has changed since I graduated from school. I’ve grown fonder of books. These days, although I’m always drowning in a lot of work, I still try to squeeze some reading in. Looking back, I would say all the books that I've read really helped transform my mindset and genuinely inspired me to be a better version of myself. VOCABULARY - not somebody’s cup of tea (n):(informal) not what somebody likes or is interested in, ko phải là cái mà ai đó thích - Be a sucker for somebody/ something: to like a particular type of person or thing very much, so that you will do almost anything to please them or to have them, cực thích ai/ cái gì đến mức không thể từ chối - drown in something /draʊn/(phr v) to have more of something than you are able to deal with, có quá nhiều thứ để bạn có thể giải quyết - squeeze somebody/something in /skwiːz/ (phr v) to give time to somebody/something, although you are very busy, cố gắng dành thời gian cho cái gì, mặc dù bạn rất bận rộn - transform my mindset /trænsˈfɔːrm/: thay đổi tư duy của tôi - inspire me to be a version of myself: truyền cảm hứng để tôi trở thành một phiên bản tốt hơn của bản thân mình

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3. Have you ever read a novel that has been adapted into a film? Answer 1 Well, I think the adaptation that sticks out most to me is Harry Potter which always has a special place in my heart. Whenever I read it, I find that it makes time go by super fast for me. I don’t know but I just become really engrossed in the book and just let my imagination run wild while reading it.

Answer 2 Well, off the top of my head, I can’t think of any because I’m not really into novels. So, I would say this question is really putting me on the spot. If my memory serves me right, there was a time that my friend told me about a novel called Harry Potter which was converted into a film several years ago. And that’s all I know about it. Personally, my favorite genre is self-help, so if you asked me anything about it, I could rave for hours on end. VOCABULARY - stick out (phr v): to be easily seen or noticed, dễ dàng để nghĩ ra - (something) holds a special place in (one's) heart: something is very emotionally important to you, cái gì cực kỳ quan trọng với ai, chiếm vị trí đặc biệt trong tim ai. - go by (phr v): (of time) to pass, trôi (thời gian) - engrossed (in/with something) /ɪnˈɡrəʊst/ (a): interested or involved in something that you give it all your attention, say mê, đắm chìm - let my imagination run wild: cho phép tôi thỏa trí tưởng tưởng - off the top of your head (idiom): from the knowledge you have in your memory, từ kiến thức bạn nhớ được - Be into something: to like and be interested in something, thích, hứng thú với cái gì - put someone on the spot (idiom): If you put someone on the spot, you cause them embarrassment or difficulty by forcing them at that moment to answer a 139

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difficult question or make an important decision, đặt ai vào thế khó bằng cách buộc họ phải trả lời một câu hỏi khó hoặc đưa quyết định quan trọng. if my memory serves me right (idiom): if I remember correctly, nếu tôi nhớ không nhầm convert something into something (v) to change or make something change from one form, purpose, system, etc. to another, chuyển đổi từ cái này sang cái khác + be converted into: được chuyển thể thành (khi đặt trong hoàn cảnh này, cụm này sẽ được dịch như vậy) genre /ˈʒɑːnrə/ (n): a particular type or style of literature, art, film or music that you can recognize because of its special features, thể loại rave (about somebody/something) /reɪv/ (v): to talk or write about something in a very enthusiastic way, nói say sưa; viết với lòng thán phục (về ai, về cái gì) for hours, days, etc. on end (phrase): for hours, days, etc. without stopping, nhiều giờ/ nhiều ngày/.. không ngừng nghỉ

4. Which do you prefer, reading books or watching movies? Answer 1 Actually I prefer reading to watching films. This is because when I’m reading, I'm using a more active part of my brain. I mean because it requires me to use my imagination, my brain is more stimulated. Also, I don’t want to spend more downtime on trivial things like movies. To me, time is a very valuable currency, so I just want to make the most of it to do something good for myself. Answer 2 Well, if I had to pick one, I would choose the latter. This is because I love the idea of sitting in front of the telly and losing myself in a world somebody else has imagined. These days, due to my hectic work schedule, I’m stressed out all the time, so I would say watching a movie is an excellent way to decompress and also forget about life for a minute. 140

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VOCABULARY - downtime /ˈdaʊntaɪm/ (n): the time when somebody stops working and is able to relax, thời gian chết ( từ này chuyên dùng trong tiếng Anh Mỹ) - trivial /ˈtrɪviəl/ (a): not important or serious; not worth considering, tầm thường, ko quan trọng - time is a very valuable currency: thời gian là 1 loại tiền bạc vô cùng quý giá - make the most of something (idiom): to use or enjoy something as much as possible, tận dụng tối đa, lợi thế tốt nhất - telly /ˈteli/ [countable noun] a television set, Tivi - lose yourself in something (phr v) to be paying so much attention to something that you do not notice anything else, đắm chìm vào cái gì - decompress /ˌdiːkəmˈpres/ (v): to calm down and relax, thư giãn (từ này hay lắm nhé, dùng trong văn phong ko trang trọng như văn nói) = unwind 5. Do you read e-books? Yes, absolutely. To be honest, ever since I switched to using Kindle, which is an ereader, my reading habits have just skyrocketed. This is because now I can have an infinite library at my fingertips. Also, I love how lightweight it is. With some physical books, especially when they're quite thick and heavy, I feel like it's just a chore to read, like you're essentially lifting five-pound weights, and it's not very comfortable. But with a Kindle, I can just be in whatever position I want, and it's just really light on my wrists. VOCABULARY - switch from something to something (v): to change or make something change from one thing to another, chuyển từ cái này sang cái kia - skyrocket /ˈskaɪrɑːkɪt/ (v): (of prices, etc.) to rise quickly to a very high level, tăng vọt - infinite /ˈɪn.fə.nət/ (a): without limits; extremely large or great, vô tận, vô hạn - have something at your fingertips (idiom): to have the information, knowledge, etc. that is needed in a particular situation and be able to find it easily and use it quickly, thứ gì đó có sẵn trong tầm tay 141

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- lightweight /ˈlaɪtweɪt/ (a): made of thinner material and less heavy than usual, trọng lượng nhẹ - weight (countable noun): a piece of metal that is known to weigh a particular amount and is used to measure the weight of something, or lifted by people to improve their strength and as a sport, quả tạ

6. What was your favorite book or story when you were a child? Well, the book that has left an imprint on my memory up to now is definitely Doraemon, which is a Japanese comic book. Personally, I really enjoyed it since it was a doddle to read, and I didn’t need to use too much of my brainpower, you know, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the story. On top of that, I liked the way the author developed the plot. It just drew me in/reeled me in/ hooked me right after I read the first page, and I just couldn’t put it down. VOCABULARY - imprint (of something) (on somebody/something) (n): the lasting effect that a person or an experience has on a place or a situation, dấu ấn về + leave an imprint on their memory: để lại dấu ấn trong tâm trí của họ - be a doddle /ˈdɑːdl/ (n) something that is very easy to do, cái gì đó rất dễ để làm - draw somebody into (doing) something (phr v): to involve somebody or make somebody take part in something, although they may not want to take part at first, lôi kéo ai vào cái gì, cuốn ai vào - reel someone in /riːl/ (phr v): to lure or bring in someone or something that one wants or needs, cuốn ai vào cái gì - hook (v) (slang- tiếng lóng): To captivate (someone), thu hút ai - put something down (idiom): to stop holding something and place it on a table, shelf, etc., đặt cái gì xuống + (figurative - nghĩa bóng) It's a great book. I couldn't put it down (= stop reading it).

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7. Do you think it's important that children read regularly? Definitely. I think reading does wonders for children’s development. I mean it really helps boost their creativity and imagination especially when kids are exposed to books at a very young age. As the saying goes “Not All Readers Are Leaders, but All Leaders Are Readers”, so the ability to read will open the door to the world of knowledge, which allows younger ones to learn new things and gives them more opportunities to thrive in the future. VOCABULARY -

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do wonders for somebody/ something (idiom) to have a very good effect on somebody/something, mang lại điều kỳ diệu cho ai/ cái gì boost their creativity and imagination: thúc đẩy sự sáng tạo và trí tưởng tượng expose somebody to something (v) to let somebody find out about something by giving them experience of it or showing them what it is like, cho phép ai tiếp cận với cái gì open the door to something (idiom) to allow something new to start, mở ra cánh cửa đến với cái gì thrive /θraɪv/ (v) to become, and continue to be, successful, strong, healthy, etc., phát triển

8. Describe your favorite book/ Describe a book you find useful WHAT ITS NAME Today, I’m gonna talk about my bible which is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. This is also the book that I’ve been shoving down my friends’ throats for a pretty long time. WHY YOU READ IT IN THE FIRST PLACE I first read it several months ago. To sum it up, at that point, I was in a rut. I just always felt like a huge disappointment because I was working in a dead-end job, and I couldn’t see a way out. I felt so stuck and stagnant. And it got to the point where I was just tired of waiting for things to happen for me. I wanted to do something about it. 143

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So instead, I tried to make my own luck. I watched thousands of videos on Youtube about how I could get out of the rat race and be financially free. Then this book was recommended to me. WHAT THAT BOOK WAS ABOUT Personally, this was the biggest book that gave me a jump start to understanding money and personal finance, which I think will never be taught at school. In the book, Robert drills in a strong financial foundation by using many of his own stories, so I would say this book is a doddle to read. WHY YOU LIKE IT/ YOU THINK IT IS USEFUL Well, I’ve been reading a bunch of different self-help books before, but this one just hits different. Robert had excellent storytelling skills which made me become engrossed in it right after I read the first page. I just couldn’t put it down and literally fixated on it. Also, this book really helped me hone my money skills and planted in my head the idea of having my own business which I had never thought of before. Now, I'm actually on my second time reading it because I just want to remember his lessons for the rest of my life and apply them that way. All in all, this is such a transformative book, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone. VOCABULARY - bible (n) a book, magazine, etc. that gives important advice and information about a particular subject, 1 quyển sách/ tạp chí đưa cho bạn lời khuyên quan trọng, thông tin về 1 chủ đề nào đó - shove something down someone’s throat /ʃʌv/ (idiom) to force someone to accept something unpleasant, nghĩa là nhồi, ép buộc ai phải nuốt xuống hoặc ép buộc ai chấp nhận hoặc chịu đựng, đồng ý điều gì. Ex. This is also the book that I’ve been shoving down my friends’ throats for a pretty long time. ( Trong câu này, cụm “shove down my friends’ throats” bạn có thể hiểu là: bảo bạn bè đọc nó, “đọc đi, hay lắm luôn ý”, kiểu bắt bạn bè phải đọc cuốn sách này) 144

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- Be/ stuck in a rut: ở trong tình trạng cố định, buồn tẻ. Ở đây, “rut” có nghĩa là a boring way of life that does not change (1 cách sống chán nản, chẳng có gì thay đổi) - Disappointment /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/ (n) [countable] a person or thing that is disappointing, một lỗi thất vọng, ( có thể chỉ người hoặc vật nhé !) + disappointment to somebody 🡪 I always felt I was a disappointment to my father. - A dead-end job: job with no prospects of promotion, công việc ko có cơ hội thăng tiến - way out (n) a way of escaping from a difficult situation, 1 cách để thoát khỏi tình trạng khó khăn hiện tại - stagnant /ˈstæɡnənt/ (a) not developing, growing or changing, đình đốn, trì trệ - do something about something: to do something to solve a problem or stop a bad situation, làm gì đó để giải quyết vấn đề và chấm dứt tình trạng tồi tệ Ex. If we don’t do something about it, the problem is going to get worse. - make (one's) own luck: To rely on one's skill, ability, and perseverance to capitalize on opportunity, rather than relying solely on luck itself, tạo ra vận may của chính mình -> cụm từ này nghĩa là thành công dựa vào nỗ lực, khả năng sử dụng kỹ năng, năng lực, sự kiên trì và tận dụng cơ hội, chứ không đơn thuần dựa vào may mắn. - the rat race: a way of life in modern society, in which people compete with each other for power and money, cuộc bon chen (trong xã hội, trong việc cạnh tranh về việc làm, tiền bạc...) Get out of/ escape + the rat race: thoát khỏi cuộc chạy đua chuột >< get caught up in the rat race: mắc vào cuộc chạy đua chuột - jump-start /ˈdʒʌmp stɑːrt/ (n) extra help that makes something such as an industry or economy improve more quickly, sự tiếp sức khiến cái gì phát triển, nâng cấp nhanh chóng hơn - drill something into somebody /drɪl/ (phr v) to make somebody remember or learn something by repeating it often, làm ai nhớ hoặc học điều gì bằng việc lặp đi lặp lại nó - be a doddle /ˈdɑːdl/ (n) something that is very easy to do, cái gì đó rất dễ để làm - hit different: when something affects you in a meaningful way, it "hits different." It may be a new experience that stands out or something you've experienced before but now affects you differently, cái gì đó rất khác biệt so với những gì bạn đã trải nghiệm trước đó, thực sự khác bọt 145

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- engrossed (in/with something) /ɪnˈɡrəʊst/ (a) o interested or involved in something that you give it all your attention, say mê, đắm chìm - fixated (on somebody/something) /fɪkˈseɪtɪd/ (a) always thinking and talking about, lúc nào cũng nghĩ/nói về ai/ cái gì - hone something /həʊn/ (v) to develop and improve something, especially a skill, over a period of time, mài dũa, phát triển, đặc biệt là 1 kỹ năng - plant something in something (v) to make somebody think or believe something, especially without them realizing that you gave them the idea, + plant in my head the idea…: có nghĩa là gieo trồng 1 ý tưởng gì trong đầu mình - transformative /trænsˈfɔːr.mə.t̬ɪv/ (a) causing a major change to something or someone, especially in a way that makes it or them better, mang tính thay đổi

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FASHION/SHOPPING 1. What kind of clothes do you like wearing? Well, I think it depends. When I go to work, I just want to be comfortable and still stay sharp. So I normally throw on formal clothes like a blazer and turtleneck combo, then some smart trousers along with some sneakers/flats. Besides, if I go on an outing with my friends on rare days, I will try to make a splash by rocking something crazy and elaborate. However, when I’m at home, I prefer to slip on/slip into something comfy like my stretchy pajamas so that I can just lounge around. VOCABULARY - sharp /ʃɑːrp/ (a) (of clothes or the way somebody dresses) fashionable and new, [nói đến quần áo hay cách ai đó ăn mặc], chỉnh tề, đẹp, thời thượng - throw on something /θrəʊ/ (phr v) to quickly put on (a piece of clothing), mặc nhanh cái gì - turtleneck /ˈtɜːrtlnek/ (n) (also turtleneck sweater) a sweater with a high part fitting closely around the neck, áo len cổ lọ - smart (a) (of clothes, etc.) clean, neat and looking new and attractive [khi dùng cho quần áo] lịch sự, thanh nhã ( trông sạch, gọn gàng, thu hút) - smart (a) (of people) looking clean and neat; well dressed in fashionable and/or formal clothes [ khi dùng cho người], bảnh bao - outing /ˈaʊtɪŋ/ (countable noun) a trip that you go on for pleasure or education, usually with a group of people and lasting no more than one day, cuộc đi chơi ( thường với một nhóm người và kéo dài ko quá 1 ngày) + on an outing (to…) → We went on an outing to London. - make a splash (phrase) attract a great deal of attention, thu hút nhiều sự chú ý - rock something (v) to wear something or have a style of clothing, hair, etc. that makes you look attractive or confident, [dùng trong văn phong ko trang trọng như văn nói]. mặc hoặc có 1 kiểu phong cách ăn mặc hay tóc tai nào đó khiến bạn thu hút và tự tin - elaborate /ɪˈlæbərət/ (a) very complicated and detailed; carefully prepared and organized, cầu kỳ, công phu, trau chuốt, tỉ mỉ - slip something + adv./prep (v): to put clothes on or to take them off quickly and 148

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easily, mặc hoặc cởi đồ 1 cách nhanh chóng, dễ dàng [ từ này có ý như thế nào sẽ phụ thuộc vào trạng từ hoặc tính từ đi theo sau nó ] Ex. to slip into/out of a dress to slip your shoes on/off - lounge around (something) /laʊndʒ/ (phr v) to spend your time in a relaxed way, sitting or lying somewhere and doing very little, thư gian nhẹ nhàng

2. Where do you buy your clothes? Obviously, since I don’t want to splurge on luxury stuff, I just go to flea markets where they have literally everything in spades. You know, I can find a lot of goodies there. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I can even score some pretty amazing deals. Having said that, I still hit the mall every once in a while to find some designer clothes for special occasions like weddings or holiday parties. VOCABULARY - splurge (something) (out) (on something) /splɜːrdʒ/ (v): to spend a lot of money on something that you do not really need, tiêu xài phung phí Ex. He splurged his whole week’s wages on a champagne dinner. - flea market (n): a market, typically outdoors, selling secondhand goods, chợ trời (là chợ bán ngoài trời, bán đồ cũ) - in spades (idiom) in large amounts or to a very great degree - goodie /ˈɡʊdi/ (n) anything that is attractive and that people want to have Ex. We're giving away lots of free goodies—T-shirts, hats and posters! - score (v) to get something, dành được cái gì, có được cái gì Ex. I managed to score a couple of tickets to the World Cup final. + score some pretty amazing deals: mua được nhiều thứ khá tuyệt - hit the mall (v) đến trung tâm thương mại - From time to time: sometimes, but not often = (every) once in a while - designer clothes: fashionable or luxury clothes made by, or carrying the label of, a well-known fashion designer, quần áo hàng hiệu ( được làm hay mang nhãn mác của 1 nhà thiết kế thời trang nổi tiếng) 149

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3. Has your style of clothing changed compared to 10 years ago? Definitely. To be honest, when I was a teenager, I would wear pretty boring clothes that were out of style/old-fashioned/ out of fashion. I think at that point, I was quite vague about my true identity, and I didn’t want to be noticeable or grab anyone’s attention. But my obsession with clothing has started to ramp up ever since I got to university. Now I feel truly brave enough to express my style... like every moment is a chance for me to create a presentation with my outfits. Looking back, I’m so proud of my evolution. VOCABULARY - out of style (idiom) not popular, fashionable, not stylish, lỗi thời - old-fashioned /ˌəʊld ˈfæʃnd/ (a) not modern; no longer fashionable, lỗi thời - in/out of fashion: If something is in fashion, it is popular and approved of at a particular time. If it is out of fashion, it is not popular or approved of. Hợp thời/ lỗi thời - vague (about something)/veɪɡ/ (a) not having or giving enough information or details about something, mơ hồ về cái gì - identity /aɪˈdentəti/ (n) the characteristics, feelings or beliefs that make people different from others, cá tính, đặc tính, nét để nhận biết, nét để nhận dạng, nét để nhận diện thứ khiến ta khác với mọi người - grab someone's attention: to attract someone's attention, thu hút sự chú ý của ai - obsession with somebody/something /əbˈseʃn/ (n) the state in which a person’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a way that is not reasonable or normal, sự ám ảnh với ai/ cái gì (là 1 trạng thái mà 1 người cứ luôn nghĩ về 1 người/ 1 vật nào đó không rõ nguyên do) - ramp up /ræmp/ (phr v) to increase or cause to increase, tăng (cái gì tự tăng)/ hoặc đẩy mạnh cái gì Với nghĩa “đẩy mạnh/ làm tăng cái gì”, ta có ví dụ: Ex. The company quickly ramped up production to meet the demand. ( Công ty này đã nhanh chóng đẩy mạnh sản xuất để đáp ứng nhu cầu) 150

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- evolution (n) the slow steady development of something, quá trình tiến triển của cái gì Ex. his evolution from comedian to serious actor

4. What’s your favorite color for clothes? Frankly speaking, my color preferences are quite all over the place. I love having different colors in my wardrobe since I believe that variety is the spice of life. Having said that, I’m living for sage color. My obsession with it is just getting out of control these days because I think it is really easy on the eye and always brings me a deep sense of relaxation. VOCABULARY - all over the place (idiom): not correct, regular, or well organized; changing a lot without reason, ko đều đặn, ko có tổ chức, hay thay đổi - spice something (up) (with something): to add interest or excitement to something, thêm “gia vị” để làm cho cái gì thêm phần thú vị - live for something (phr v) if you live for something, it is the thing that you enjoy or hope for most in your life, sống vì cái gì (ý nói là bạn rất thích cái đó Ex. She just lives for music. - obsession with somebody/something /əbˈseʃn/ (n) the state in which a person’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a way that is not reasonable or normal, sự ám ảnh với ai/ cái gì (là 1 trạng thái mà 1 người cứ luôn nghĩ về 1 người/ 1 vật nào đó không rõ nguyên do) - out of control (phrase): if something is out of control, people are not able to limit it or make it do what they want it to do, mất kiểm soát - easy on the eye/ear (idiom): pleasant to look at/listen to, dễ nhìn/ dễ nghe - bring me a sense of relaxation: mang lại cho tôi cảm giác thư giãn

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5. What kind of clothes do people in your country usually wear? Well, to be honest, it’s pretty hard for me to describe in words what people normally wear. So, your question is literally putting me on the spot. However, I guess at different ages, people have different tastes in clothes. With the youth, especially people of my age, we are always itching to/dying to represent our identities and express our personalities, so we’re just dressed in the height of fashion with lots of bold outfits. Like the world is our runway. But by contrast, the elderly and middle-aged take a much more pragmatic approach. They just focus on versatile and utilitarian designs which work with different occasions. VOCABULARY - put someone on the spot (idiom): If you put someone on the spot, you cause them embarrassment or difficulty by forcing them at that moment to answer a difficult question or make an important decision, đặt ai vào thế khó bằng cách buộc họ phải trả lời một câu hỏi khó hoặc đưa quyết định quan trọng. - taste in something (n) what a person likes or prefers, sở thích với cái gì - itch to do something (v) to want to do something very much and as soon as possible, muốn làm cái gì đó sớm nhất có thể - be dying for/to do something (idiom) to be extremely eager to have or do something, cực kỳ háo hức để làm gì - be dressed in something (a) wearing clothes of a particular type, mặc một loại quần áo nào đó - be the height of fashion/stupidity/luxury etc: to be extremely fashionable, stupid etc, cực kỳ thời trang/ngu…. - pragmatic /præɡˈmætɪk/ (a) solving problems in a practical and sensible way rather than by having fixed ideas or theories, thực tế = realistic - versatile /ˈvɜːrsətl/ (a) (of food, a building, etc.) having many different uses, có nhiều công dụng, đa năng - utilitarian /ˌjuːtɪlɪˈteriən/ (a) designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive, được thiết kế để xử dụng thay vì đẹp 152

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6. Do you enjoy buying clothes? Ở đây bạn có thể biến đổi một chút để trả lời cho câu hỏi “Do you enjoy shopping?” Absolutely yes. I’m not a shopaholic, to be honest, but I think shopping for clothes is an excellent way for me to clear my mind and also forget about life for a minute. So whenever I’m feeling moody or a bit down in the dumps, I just need some retail therapy to cheer me up. VOCABULARY - shopaholic /ˌʃɑːpəˈhɑːlɪk/ (n) a person who enjoys shopping very much and spends too much time or money doing it - clear your head/mind (phrase) to empty your head of all thoughts, to see things more clearly, giải tỏa đầu óc/ tâm trí để có thể nhìn nhận nhiều điều một cách rõ ràng hơn - moody /ˈmuːdi/ (a) (of a person) often sad, or changing from being happy to sad, often for no clear reason, có tâm trạng thay đổi từ vui sang buồn không rõ nguyên do (kiểu tự dưng buồn) - be down in the dumps (idiom) unhappy, tụt cảm hứng, buồn, thất vọng Ex. She's a bit down in the dumps because she failed one of her exams. - retail therapy /ˌriːteɪl ˈθerəpi/ (uncountable noun) the act of going shopping and buying things in order to make yourself feel more cheerful, hành động mua sắm để cảm thấy tốt hơn khi buồn - cheer (someone) up (phr v) If someone cheers up, or something cheers someone up, they start to feel happier, trở nên phấn khởi hơn hoặc là làm cho ai đó trở nên đỡ buồn hơn

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SHOPPING 7. How often do you go shopping? Well, I just go shopping once in a blue moon, maybe every three months. This is because these days, I’m always drowning in a ton of deadlines and assignments, so it’s pretty hard for me to find time to do the thing that I’m head over heels for. That being said, when I have a chance, I will hit the mall and treat myself to a brandnew dress. VOCABULARY - once in a blue moon (idiom) very rarely, not very often, rất hiếm khi - drown in something /draʊn/(phr v) to have more of something than you are able to deal with, có quá nhiều thứ để bạn có thể giải quyết - find (the) time (idiom): have enough time, có đủ thời gian làm gì - head over heels (in love) (idiom): thực sự yêu ai/ cái gì, toàn tâm toàn ý, yêu tha thiết [đây là một strong expression, vậy nên khi dùng cụm từ, bạn hãy thể hiện 1 cảm xúc thực sự mãnh liệt nhé ] Ex. Laura fell head over heels in love with Chris. Ex. I’m head over heels in love with that truck. Để bạn có thể hiểu rõ cách dùng từ này hơn, bạn click vào link này nhé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0UGpG5Qgoo - Having said that/ That being said: “mặc dù đã nói như vậy”, sử dụng trong trường hợp người nói muốn thêm vào một điều gì đó có vẻ đối ngược với điều mà bản thân anh ta/cô ta vừa mới nói trước đó. - hit the mall (v) đến trung tâm thương mại - treat somebody/yourself (to something) (v) to pay for something that someone/you will enjoy and that you do not usually have or do + She treated him to lunch. ( cô ấy bao anh ta ăn trưa) + I'm going to treat myself to a new pair of shoes.(tôi tự thưởng cho mình 1 đôi giày mới) - brand new (a) completely new, cực mới, (từ này mình thấy người bản xứ dùng cực nhiều, ví dụ: a brand-new car)

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8. What is the most expensive item that you have purchased? Well, the most pricey thing I’ve bought for myself till now is my laptop which cost me an arm and a leg, to be honest. I didn’t buy it on impulse. I was thinking twice about it for a pretty long time before taking the plunge. Now, looking back, I think purchasing that laptop was a wise move because it has helped me a lot with work. VOCABULARY - pricey (a) expensive, đắt đỏ Ex. The menu may seem pricey, but it's actually good value for money (đáng đồng tiền bát gạo bỏ ra) . - cost an arm and a leg/a small fortune /ˈfɔːrtʃən/(idiom) to be extremely expensive, cực kỳ đắt Bạn có thể tham khảo thêm các từ vựng về “ĐẮT ĐỎ” ở link này nhé: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/thesaurus/articles/to-be-expensive - impulse /ˈɪmpʌls/ (n) a sudden strong wish or need to do something, without stopping to think about the results, bốc đồng + on (an) impulse 🡪 Ex. On an impulse, I went in and bought a box of chocolates. - think twice about (doing) something (idiom) to think carefully before deciding to do something, nghĩ kỹ trước khi đưa ra quyết định làm gì - take the plunge (idiom) to make a decision to do something, especially after thinking about it for a long time, đưa ra quyết định làm gì, đặc biệt là sau khi suy nghĩ trong 1 khoảng thời gian dài - a wise move: 1 nước đi thông minh 9. Do you compare prices when you shop? I’m currently living on a budget, so for me, comparing prices is a must, especially before a huge purchase. Therefore, whenever I want to buy something, I normally shop around for the best deal. Actually, when I was younger, I used to blow all of my money on clothes without a second thought. But as I get older, I’ve come to realize that money doesn’t grow on trees, so I have to be very careful when using it. 155

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VOCABULARY - live on a budget: be careful with your money, plan and pay attention to what you spend, tính toán chi tiêu cẩn thận, (không tiêu bừa bãi) - shop around (phr v) to compare the price and quality of the same or a similar object in different shops before you decide which one to buy, đi các shops khác nhau để so sánh giá cả, chất lượng của những món đồ giống nhau trước khi bạn quyết định mua cái gì - blow something (on something) (v) to spend or waste a lot of money on something, tiêu rất nhiều tiền vào cái gì - without a second thought: acting immediately, without stopping to think, hành đồng ngay mà chẳng cần suy nghĩ - money doesn't grow on trees (idiom) said to warn someone to be careful how much money they spend, because there is only a limited amount, tiền khó kiếm, có giới hạn, nên tiêu pha it thôi

10. Do you like online shopping? I’m a huge fan of shopping online, hands down. As I was saying, I’m always up to my ears in work, so I don’t have time to go to brick-and-mortar stores to buy stuff religiously. With a smartphone, I can buy things literally from all around the world just at the touch of a button/ at the push of a button. Everything is delivered straight to my door, which is life-changing for me, to be honest. VOCABULARY - be a fan of somebody/something: a person who admires somebody/something or enjoys watching or listening to somebody/something very much was, là fan của ai/ cái gì - hands down (idiom) definitely, chắc chắn rồi - be up to your ears in something (idiom) : to be very busy, or to have more of something than you can manage, bận ngập đầu, ngập cổ - brick-and-mortar (a) used to describe a traditional business that operates in a building, when compared to one that operates over the internet, cửa hàng vật lý truyền thống (ngược với online) 156

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+ brick-and-mortar stores/retailers /ˌbrɪks n ˈmɔːrtər/: cửa hàng truyền thống/nhà bán lẻ truyền thống - religiously /rɪˈlɪdʒəsli/ (adv) If you do something religiously, you do it regularly, thường xuyên. - at the touch of a button/ at the push of a button: very easily, rất dễ dàng, dùng ít nỗ lực, như thể chỉ việc bấm nút thôi vậy - life-changing /ˈlaɪf tʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ (a) having such a big effect that it changes somebody's life,

11. Do you think expensive products are always better than cheaper ones? From my point of view, price definitely correlates to quality. It’s safe to say that designer bags like Gucci or Louis Vuitton are really good value for money, and they also make you look like a million bucks. However, I do believe that spending less doesn’t mean you need to compromise on quality. I’ve bought so many off-the-rack/ discount/ off-brand items, even some thrifted ones, which are dirt cheap. But I would say they are super durable and hold up very well even though I’ve washed them so many times. VOCABULARY - correlate to something /ˈkɔːr.ə.leɪt/ (v) if two things correlate, or are correlated, they are connected, and affect each other, tương quan với cái gì Ex. At this point, the advertising hasn't correlated to an increase in sales. - it's safe to say (that) (idiom): used to say that you are confident about what you are going to say, có thể nói một cách chắc rằng Ex. I think it's safe to say that the crisis is now over. - good value (for money): something that is good value is not expensive, or is worth what you pay for it, cái gì đáng đồng tiền bát gạo bỏ ra/ tiền nào của nấy Ex. The three-course menu is good value for money. - look/feel like a million bucks (idiom) to look or feel extremely good, often because you are wearing something that costs a lot of money, cảm thấy cực kỳ tuyệt vời, thường bởi vì bạn đang mặc đồ gì đắt tiền > Ex. You look like a million dollars in that dress, honey! 157

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- compromise on something /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/ (v) to agree to give up something you want if the other side, which has different opinions from yours, gives up something it wants, chấp nhận từ bỏ cái gì mà bạn muốn - off-the-rack (US)/ off-the-peg (UK)(a) (of clothes) made to a standard average size and not made especially to fit you. Cụm này dùng để nói đến những sản phẩm thời trang (quần áo) được làm sẵn với số lượng lớn để bán. - off-brand /ˈɑːfˌbrænd/(a) not having a well-known brand name (= the name given to a product by the company that makes it), ko có tên thương hiệu nổi tiếng Ex. Many teenagers wouldn't consider off-brand sneakers. - thrifted items: những món đồ cũ được bán ở thrift store (cửa hàng đồ cũ), or flea market (chợ trời). Note: Thrifted items have been loved by a previous owner, but are usually in good shape with enough life left to be useful to a new owner. ( Những món đồ cũ rất được trân trọng bởi chủ cũ, thường chất lượng vẫn okela để chủ mới mặc tiếp) - dirt cheap (adj) very cheap, rẻ như bèo - durable /ˈdʊrəbl/ (a) likely to last for a long time without breaking or getting weaker, bền - hold up (phr v) to stay in good condition, remain strong or successful, vẫn trong tình trạng tốt ( từ này có thể dùng cho nhiều thứ, ví dụ như sofa, gường,… Nếu bạn dùng cái gì trong một thời gian rất dài, đến giờ nó vẫn bền, tốt thì bạn có thể dùng từ này)

12. Describe a piece of clothing you enjoy wearing WHAT THE ITEM OF CLOTHING IS When I read the cue card, the first item of clothing that pops into my head is a Tshirt, which is my all-time favorite. WHEN AND WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT I bought it last year. If my memory serves me right, at that point I was pretty stressed out and a bit down in the dumps, so I decided to indulge in some retail 158

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therapy to boost my mood. When I was wandering around the Phung Khoang market, this T-shirt suddenly caught my eye. Actually, I was a real sucker for baggy tees, and this piece was dirt cheap, just around $8, so I couldn’t resist the urge and snapped it up right away. HOW OFTEN YOU WEAR IT Like I said earlier, I'm very passionate about big, baggy t-shirts. I even have a huge collection of them, but this is the only item that I’ve had on rotation non-stop ever since I bought it. WHAT IT IS LIKE Specifically, it’s just a minimal white T-shirt with the quote “all we have is now” embroidered on the front. This quote is kind of like a little reminder to remind me that the only time I have is now, just focus on the present and savor every moment in my life. Moreover, the fabric of the item is incredibly stretchy and really cool to touch. It feels so good on the skin, to be honest. AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU ENJOY WEARING IT All in all, I really love this T-shirt because it grounds me whenever I catch the embroidery in the reflection, or in the mirror. Also, it’s extremely versatile and has held up very well no matter how many times I’ve washed it. In retrospect, buying this tee was a wise move, hands down. I think I really got the bang for my buck. VOCABULARY - pops into your head/mind: to suddenly think of something, đột nhiên nghĩ ra cái gì - all-time favourite /ˈfeɪvərɪt/ : favorite of all choices, during all times, cái gì/ người mà ai lúc nào cũng thích

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Ngoài ra, nếu bạn cũng có thể dung “perennial favourite” để nói về 1 thứ mà bạn lúc nào cũng thích trong 1 khoảng thời gian rất dài. Tuy nhiên, từ này có phần quá trang trọng, người bản xứ ít dùng từ này. - if my memory serves me right (idiom): if I remember correctly, nếu tôi nhớ không nhầm - be stressed (out ) (a): căng thẳng, lo âu - be down in the dumps (idiom) unhappy, tụt cảm hứng, buồn, thất vọng - indulge in something /ɪnˈdʌldʒ/ (v) to allow yourself or someone else to have something enjoyable - retail therapy /ˌriːteɪl ˈθerəpi/ (uncountable noun) the act of going shopping and buying things in order to make yourself feel more cheerful, hành động mua sắm để cảm thấy tốt hơn khi buồn - boost my mood: cải thiện tâm trạng - wander around /ˈwɑːndər/: to walk casually around (some place) without any definite purpose or destination, đi loanh quanh Ex. She wandered aimlessly around the streets. - catch someone's eye (idiom) to be attractive or different enough to be noticed by someone, thu hút sự chú ý của ai Ex: It was the unusual colour of his jacket that caught my eye. - be a sucker for somebody/ something: to like a particular type of person or thing very much, so that you will do almost anything to please them or to have them, cực thích ai/ cái gì đến mức không thể từ chối - dirt cheap (adj) very cheap, rẻ như bèo - snap something up (phr v) to buy or get something quickly and enthusiastically because it is cheap or exactly what you want, hốt nhanh, chộp nhanh, mua thứ gì nhanh vì giá đang thấp hoặc vì bạn muốn nó - on rotation: luân phiên nhau Ex. This is the only item that I’ve had on rotation non-stop (ý là: đây là món đồ mà tôi mặc luân phiên với những món đồ khác. Không phải ngày nào tôi cũng mặc nó, nhưng tôi mặc nó với tần xuất thường xuyên) Ví dụ: Mình có 1 áo đỏ, 1 áo vàng, thì mình sẽ mặc thay đổi luân phiên 2 áo này với nhau từng ngày. Bạn có thể dễ dàng bắt gặp rất nhiều bài báo về thời gian có tựa đề như: “27 Easy Outfit Ideas I’m Wearing on Rotation This Spring” 160

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https://gossipchimp.com/27-easy-outfit-ideas-im-wearing-on-rotation-thisspring/ - embroider A on B /ɪmˈbrɔɪdər/ (v) to decorate cloth with a pattern of stitches usually using coloured thread, thêu A lên B Ex. She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. - savor (v) to enjoy a feeling or an experience completely, tận hưởng ~ relish - incredibly stretchy: cực kỳ co dãn (ở đây từ “ incredibly = extremely) - ground someone: help someone feel at peace, bring someone back to the present moment, giúp ai cảm thấy bình yên, mang ai trở về thực tại - embroidery /ɪmˈbrɔɪdəri/ (uncountable, countable noun): patterns that are sewn onto cloth using threads of various colors; cloth that is decorated in this way. Các họa tiết được thêu (danh từ đếm được)/ vải được thêu (danh từ ko đếm được) - reflection /rɪˈflekʃn/ (n) an image in a mirror, on a shiny surface, on water, etc., hình phản chiếu trong gương, trên một bề mặt sáng bóng, trên mặt nước… - versatile /ˈvɜːrsətl/ (a) (of food, a building, etc.) having many different uses, có nhiều công dụng, đa năng - hold up (phr v) to stay in good condition, remain strong or successful, vẫn trong tình trạng tốt ( từ này có thể dùng cho nhiều thứ, ví dụ như sofa, gường,… Nếu bạn dùng cái gì trong một thời gian rất dài, đến giờ nó vẫn bền, tốt thì bạn có thể dùng từ này) - a wise move: 1 nước đi thông minh - bang for the buck (idiom) value in return for your money, nhận được món hời hoặc giá trị lớn từ một khoản đầu tư nhỏ.

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